BRPI0819409B1 - "formulation and products to promote skin cleansing and health" - Google Patents

Description

«FORMULATION AND PRODUCTS TO PROMOTE SKIN CLEANING AND HEALTH" BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention generally relates to a formulation that can be applied to a user's skin. More particularly, the formulation promotes a more positive feel and comfort by improving the cleanliness and health of the skin. The formulation may be applied directly to the skin or incorporated into personal care products such as wipes or absorbent articles.

A wide variety of absorbent personal care articles or products are known. Examples of such products include women's care articles, diapers, children's training pants, adult incontinence articles, and the like. The main function of absorbent articles is to absorb and contain body exudates. Therefore, such articles are intended to prevent body exudates from soiling, wetting, or otherwise contaminating clothing or other articles, such as bedding, that comes into contact with the wearer. The most common failure mode of such products is fluid leakage when using the articles, particularly around the side edges of the article, or the gaps between the article and the wearer's leg or waist in the case of diapers or trousers. training. Leakage may be caused by exudates that never come into contact with or remain in the upper layers of the absorbent material. For example, exudates such as urine, menstrual fluids, etc. they may run down the body and remain on the skin and / or hair of the article wearer, thus preventing exudate from being absorbed by the absorbent article, and may ultimately result in the absorbent article leaking. In addition, exudates that attach to the skin and / or hair may result in a feeling of dirt that is uncomfortable to the wearer's skin.

In addition to the excretion resulting from exudates, a variety of microflora can also be found on the skin surface at any time. Adherence to problematic microflora skin, including pathogenic bacteria and yeast, has been linked to numerous diseases, including skin infections, diaper dermatitis, urinary or vaginal infections, and bad odors. Several products are commercially available to clean the surface of the skin and remove exudates and problematic microflora from the skin. For example, baby wipes are commonly used to remove urine, menstrual flow, mucus, vaginal discharge, complex liquids and microflora from human skin. Such wet wipes typically comprise a surfactant system for cleaning the skin and removing liquids and solids located thereon. In some cases, wet wipes may comprise an antibacterial agent, such as an organic acid, which may be used in combination with the surfactant to kill bacteria located on the skin surface. Also, various antibacterial soaps and cleansers are available to clean hands and kill microflora adhered to the surface of the skin. These antibacterial soaps are generally highly effective for killing bacteria located on the skin.

Although various conventional formulations are available for cleaning and disinfecting the skin, such formulations can sometimes be hostile to the skin, particularly after repeated use. In some cases, the skin becomes dry or flaky, and the use of the formulation and associated product needs to be discontinued until the skin recovers.

Therefore, there has been a continuing demand for a formulation that can be applied to a user's skin to help microflora and unwanted materials such as exudate not stick to or remain on the skin, while also promoting a more positive user feel and comfort. due to better cleansing and health of the skin.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to a formulation that can be applied to a user's skin. More particularly, the formulation promotes a more positive feel and comfort through better cleansing and health of the skin. The formulation may be applied directly to the skin or incorporated into personal care products such as wipes or absorbent articles.

In one aspect, the present invention is directed to a formulation for promoting cleanliness and health of the skin. The formulation comprises from about 0.01% (total formulation weight) to about 10% (total formulation weight) of a friction coefficient modulator; from about 1% (by weight of the formulation) to about 15% (by weight of the formulation) of a moisturizer; from about 0.01% (total formulation weight) to about 10% (total formulation weight) of an elasticity modulator; from about 0.01% (total formulation weight) to about 10% (total formulation weight) of a skin texture modulator; and from about 1% (total formulation weight) to about 99% (total formulation weight) of a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

In another aspect, the present invention is directed to a wet wipe to promote cleanliness and health of the skin. The wet wipe comprises a tissue substrate; and a liquid formulation. The liquid formulation comprises from about 0.01% (total formulation weight) to about 10% (total formulation weight) of a friction coefficient modulator; from about 1% (by weight of the formulation) to about 15% (by weight of the formulation) of a moisturizer; from about 0.01% (total formulation weight) to about 10% (total formulation weight) of an elasticity modulator; from about 0.01% (total formulation weight) to about 10% (total formulation weight) of a skin texture modulator; and from about 1% (total formulation weight) to about 99% (total formulation weight) of a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

In another aspect, the present invention is directed to an absorbent article. The absorbent article comprises an absorbent substrate; and a formulation comprising from about 0.01% (total formulation weight) to about 10% (total formulation weight) of a friction coefficient modulator; from about 1% (by weight of the formulation) to about 15% (by weight of the formulation) of a moisturizer; from about 0.01% (total formulation weight) to about 10% (total formulation weight) of an elasticity modulator; from about 0.01% (by weight of the formulation) to about 10% (by weight of the formulation) of a skin texture modulator, and from about 1% (by weight of the formulation) to about 99% (by weight of the formulation) of a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

In yet another aspect, the present invention is directed to a system for promoting cleanliness and health of the skin. The system may comprise a formulation, a wipe, an absorbent article, and some combination thereof as described in this report.

Other objects and features will be partly evident and partly highlighted below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 shows a representative top plan view, with partial cut-away section, on one side of an absorbent article facing the body, wherein side panels or flaps are mounted to the article and arranged in a storage position. Figure 1A shows a representative bottom plan view of one side of the absorbent article facing the garment as shown in Figure 1. Figure 1B shows a schematic expanded view of a representative cross section of the absorbent article shown in Figure 1. Figure 1C shows a schematic, expanded view of a representative longitudinal cross section of the absorbent article illustrated in Figure 1. Figure 2 shows a partially cut-away, upper representative view of one side of the absorbent article facing the body having side panels or tabs that have been formed unitary with one or more components of the article, the tabs including a system of interengaged mechanical fasteners. Figure 2A shows a representative bottom plan view of an absorbent article facing the garment as illustrated in Figure 2. Figure 2B shows a schematic expanded view of a representative cross section of the absorbent article shown in Figure 2. Figure 2C shows a schematic, expanded view of a representative longitudinal cross-section of the absorbent article illustrated in Figure 2. Figure 3 shows a representative, partly cut-away, top plan view of one side of the absorbent article facing the body having side panels or tabs which were formed unitarily with one or more components of the article, the tabs including a system of adhesive fasteners. Figure 3A shows a representative bottom plan view of one side of the absorbent article facing the garment as shown in Figure 3. Figure 3B shows a schematic expanded view of a representative cross section of the absorbent article shown in Figure 3. Figure 3C shows a schematic, expanded view of a representative longitudinal cross-section of the absorbent article illustrated in Figure 3. Figure 4A shows a representative, top view of one side of the body-absorbent article having another relief distribution formed within the article. Figure 4B shows a schematic, expanded view of a representative cross-section of the absorbent article illustrated in Figure 4. Figure 5 shows a representative, top view of one side of the body-absorbent article having a selected pattern of openings formed on the surface. of the article turned to the body. Figure 5A shows a representative top view of one side of the body-facing absorbent article having another distribution of apertures formed in the body-facing surface of the article. Figure 5B shows a schematic, expanded view of a representative cross section of the absorbent article illustrated in Figure 5.

Figures 6 to 8 are graphs showing the force curve (frictional force (gf) x time) for silk (Figure 6), spunbond nonwoven (Figure 7), and synthetic skin substrate (Figure 8) for the coefficient of friction tests performed as described in Example 3.

Figures 9 and 10 are graphs showing the difference in skin conductance (Figure 9) and roughness (Figure 10) measurements for skin treated with the formulations of the present invention as compared to untreated skin as described in Example 4

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to a formulation. More particularly, the formulation may be applied to the skin and / or used in combination with a personal care product to improve absorption and control leakage of the personal care product, and to promote a more positive feel and comfort through improved cleanliness. and skin health.

According to the present invention, it has been found that a formulation comprising a Coefficient Of Friction (COF) modulator, moisturizer, elasticity modulator, skin texture modulator, and optionally a non-sticking agent and / or viscoelastic agent may improve skin cleanliness and health and promote a positive feeling when applied to the skin and / or personal care products that come in contact with the skin.

As noted above, body exudates such as menstrual flow, intermenstrual discharges, urine, fecal matter, and the like may adhere to the skin and / or incorporate along the skin or hair, impairing the ability of absorbent articles to intercept and absorb the exudates. Advantageously, the formulations of the present invention may be used to reduce adherence of body exudates to the skin, mucosa, and hair, and to promote the transfer of body exudate to an absorbent article. More particularly, the formulation may be applied directly to a user's skin, or may be used in combination with a personal care product such as a tissue or absorbent article. By using the formulation in combination with a tissue or absorbent article substrate, it is possible to transfer the formulation to the skin during product use and reduce the adhesion of exudates to the skin. By reducing the exudate adherence, the degree of capillarity close to the body is reduced, thus improving the effectiveness of the absorbent articles, and reducing the leakage of the absorbent article. In addition, reducing the degree of adherence of the exudate increases the ease by which exudate can be removed from the skin.

Additionally, as noted above, microflora are usually found naturally on the surface of the skin or mucous membranes of the body. In particular, problematic microflora, such as pathogenic bacteria or yeast, is associated with numerous diseases, including skin infections, diaper dermatitis, urinary or vaginal infections, and bad odors, among others. Therefore, it is generally desirable to inhibit the adhesion of such microflora to the surface of the skin or mucosa. Problematic microflora can include a variety of microorganisms such as Gram-negative bacteria, Gram-positive bacteria, acid-resistant bacteria, Mycoplasma, fungi, yeast, and viruses. Specific examples of microflora problems include Candida albicans, Proteus mirabilis, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, among others. Another flora, Staphylococcus epidermidis, can become an opportunistic pathogen spreading to the blood through breakage of skin barriers. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that there are numerous other examples of microflora, besides those described in this report, for which it may be desirable to inhibit adherence, and that the adherence of such microflora can be controlled similarly to that described in this report. Advantageously, the formulations described in this report not only reduce the degree of adherence of the exudate to the skin, mucosa, and hair, but may also inhibit the adhesion of problematic microflora to the skin thereby improving skin health. The formulations and personal care products described in this report can therefore be used to reduce skin infections and treat compromised skin as well as treat uncompromised skin so that it remains clean and hygienic.

In addition to reducing the exudate and adherence of microflora to the skin, the formulations of the present invention also advantageously result in other skin health and comfort benefits. For example, formulations may help maintain or enhance various skin properties, such as skin hydration, skin temperature, skin elasticity, and skin texture, as described in more detail below.

Therefore, in one aspect, the present invention is directed to a formulation comprising a friction coefficient modulator, a moisturizer, an elasticity modulator, a skin texture modulator, and an anti-sticking agent. In addition, one or more of the composition components may alter the viscosity of body exudates so that they are more efficiently transferred to the absorbent article and absorbed. The formulation may take a variety of forms including, without limitation, aqueous solutions, gels, balms, lotions, suspensions, creams, milks, ointments, liniments, sprays, emulsions, oils, resins, foams, films, solid sticks, aerosols, and similar. In one aspect, the formulation can be applied directly to the skin.

In another aspect, the formulation of the present invention may be used in combination with a product, such as a personal care product. More particularly, the formulation may be incorporated into or onto a substrate such as a tissue substrate, an absorbent substrate, a tissue or cloth substrate, a tissue substrate, among others. For example, the formulation may be incorporated into personal care products such as handkerchiefs, absorbent articles, toilet paper, tissues, and the like. In a preferred embodiment, the formulation is a liquid formulation that may be used in combination with a tissue substrate to form a wet tissue.

As noted above, the formulations of the present invention may advantageously comprise a friction coefficient modulator. Sometimes the skin may become flaky or otherwise damaged due to friction resulting from materials that come into contact with the skin and rub against it, such as clothing, the top lining of an absorbent product (for example, a diaper, female pad, and the like) or even other skin. It has now been found that the softness of a material (e.g., an absorbent product, a diaper, a skin, etc.) can be improved by treating the material with a formulation comprising a coefficient of friction. Similar improvements in softness can be achieved by applying a formulation comprising a skin friction coefficient modulator that contacts the material. In particular, the friction coefficient modulator reduces irritation and skin damage, which may otherwise result from rubbing the skin against the material. Advantageously, the friction coefficient modulator also allows the formulations of the present invention to be applied to a user in a manner in which there is no skin irritation.

Typically, the softness of a material may be determined by comparing the material's coefficient of friction, or the force required for the material to begin to move against the skin, with respect to appropriate control. The value of the coefficient of friction can be recorded as the force measure that corresponds to the highest point of the initial peak of a force curve measured in grams force (gf). Lower coefficients of friction indicate lower shear forces between material and skin, and increased softness. Therefore, as used in this report, the term "friction coefficient modulator" refers to components that reduce both the static friction coefficient (that is, the amount of force required to initiate motion of an object along a surface from a stationary position) as the dynamic coefficient of friction (ie, the amount of force required to keep an object moving on a surface).

For purposes of the present invention, the degree of softness of a material may be defined by a softness rate. The softness rate = static friction coefficient of the material being tested / static friction coefficient of a corduroy control. By expressing the softness of a material in terms of the softness rate, the softness of a material can be measured consistently and compared to measurements of other materials. Preferably, materials treated with a formulation of the present invention will have a softness rate of about 0.95 or less, and more preferably about 0.85 or less.

Examples of suitable friction coefficient modulators include, for example, silicone compounds such as polydimethylsiloxane, dimethicone, silicone cross-linked polymers, silicone gums, dimethiconol, trimethylsilyl, amodimethicone, silsesquioxanes, alkylmethylsiloxanes, silicone wax, silanes, silica, and fumed silica; propylene glycol; 1,2-propanediol; stearalkonium chloride (ie stearyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride); starch; cyclomethicone; mineral oil; petrolatum; polymethacrylate; polymethyl methacrylate; aluminum octenyl succinate starch, calcium octenyl succinate starch, particulate mixtures such as DRYFLOW® ELITE LL (INCI: aluminum starch octenyl succinate (e) lauroyl lysine) (available from National Starch), - DRYFLOW® ELITE BN (INCI: starch octenyl succinate) aluminum (e) boron nitride (available from National Starch); Nylon-12, Nylon-6; nanoparticles; cellulosics such as carboxy methyl cellulose, ethyl cellulose, and hydroxy ethyl cellulose; silicone polymers, - molybdenum disulfide; polytetrafluoroethylene; insoluble starch (available from National Starch), - lipids, - cross-linked alginates; dextrian, - graphite; crosslinked vinylpyrrolidone homopolymers; chitin; polypropylene; pectin; baby powder; cationic polymers; and combinations of such. These ingredients may be used in a variety of sizes and structures including, but not limited to, micronized particles in spherical, amorphous, or other structures.

Preferably, the friction coefficient modulator is selected from the group consisting of silicone compounds such as polydimethylsiloxane, dimethicone, silicone cross-linked polymers, silicone gums, dimethiconol, amodimethicone, silicone wax, cyclomethicone, particulates such as silsesquioxanes , and starch; polymethacrylate; polymethyl methacrylate; aluminum octenyl succinate starch, calcium octenyl succinate starch, particulate mixtures such as DRYFLOW® ELITE LL (INCI: aluminum octenyl succinate starch (e) lauroyl lysine) (available from National Starch), - DRYFLOW® ELITE BN (INCI: aluminum octenyl succinate starch) (e) boron nitride) (available from National Starch); Nylon-12; Nylon-6; baby powder; cationics such as stearalkonium chloride (ie stearyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride); and glycols such as propylene glycol and butylene glycol; and combinations of such. More preferably, the friction coefficient modulator is dimethicone. The friction coefficient modulator may be present in the formulation in amounts from about 0.01% (total formulation weight) to about 10% (total formulation weight), more preferably about 0.1% ( total weight of the formulation) to about 8% (total weight of the formulation), and most preferably from about 1% (total weight of the formulation) to about 6% (total weight of the formulation).

In a particular embodiment, the friction coefficient modulator is dimethicone and is present in the formulation in an amount from about 0.01% (by weight of the formulation) to about 10% (by weight of the formulation), and with more preferably in an amount of about 6% (by total formulation weight).

The formulations of the present invention may further comprise a moisturizer. It is generally undesirable for the skin to have significantly more moisture or significantly less moisture (ie dry skin) compared to what occurs naturally in healthy skin. Including a moisturizer in the formulations described in this report will advantageously help maintain or improve the appropriate moisture levels of the skin.

Preferably, the formulations will maintain or improve hydration of the stratum corneum for at least about 4 hours, more preferably for at least about 6 hours, and more preferably for at least 24 hours after application of the formulation. The degree of hydration can be determined by measuring the electrical conductance of the skin as shown in the examples. Conductance is a cosmetic industry standard for measuring skin hydration. Conductance is generally measured using electrodes that send a series of alternating electrical currents through the skin. Resistance to currents indicates the ability of the water to bind to the stratum corneum (ie, moisture level), and provides a conductance reading. In general, a higher conductance reading indicates a higher level of moisture in the skin and therefore increased hydration. In general, it is preferable for the skin conductance readings treated with a formulation described by the present invention to be higher than the skin reference conductance readings without any formulation applied thereto.

Suitable moisturizing examples include, for example, glycerine, ethoxylated glycerine, sodium lactate, lactic acid, glycolic acid, urea, hydrolyzed proteins, hyaluronic acid, salicylic acid, phospholipids, propylene glycol, butylene glycol, caprylyl glycol, ethoxylated propylene glycol, glycerol , collagen, pyrrolidone carboxylic acid (PCA), sodium PCA, betaine, diglycerin, glucose, sucrose, xylitol, fructose, sorbitol, mannitol, hydrolyzed starch, and combinations thereof. Preferably, the moisturizer is selected from the group consisting of glycerin, lactic acid, sodium lactate, urea, hyaluronic acid, propylene glycol, glycerol, sodium PCA, betaine, sorbitol, sucrose, mannitol, and combinations thereof. In a particular embodiment, the moisturizer is glycerin. The moisturizer may be present in the formulation in amounts from about 1% (total formulation weight) to about 15% (total formulation weight), more preferably about 2% (total formulation weight) to about 15%. from 10% (by weight of the formulation), and more preferably from about 3% (by weight of the formulation) to about 9% (by weight of the formulation), and more preferably is present in the composition. an amount of about 5% (by total formulation weight). In a preferred embodiment, the moisturizer is glycerin and is present in the formulation in an amount of about 5% (total weight of the formulation).

The formulations described in this report may further comprise an elasticity modulator. As used herein, the term "elasticity modulator" refers to ingredients that are added to the formulation to help maintain or improve the elasticity of treated skin. Methods for measuring skin elasticity are known in the art. A suitable method is presented in the examples of the present invention. In particular, elasticity may be expressed as the difference between the pressure required to pull the skin at 1 mm and the pressure required to pull the skin at 2.5 mm. In general, the lower the pressure difference, the more elastic the skin is. Elasticity can be measured using any suitable instrument such as a DermaLab Elasticity Probe (available from Cortex Technology, Hadsund, Dinarmaca).

Examples of suitable elasticity modulators include, for example, β-glucan, glycerin, lactic acid, glycolic acid, urea, hydrolyzed proteins, dimethylaminoethanol, α-hydroxy acids, liposome collagen, collagen, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Vitamin A and vitamin derivatives, elastin, peptides, and combinations thereof. Preferably, the skin elasticity modulator is selected from the group consisting of Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Vitamin A, vitamin derivatives, and combinations thereof. More preferably, the elasticity modulator is Vitamin C acetate (i.e. α-tocopheryl acetate). The elasticity modulator may be present in the formulation in amounts from about 0.01% (by weight of the formulation) to about 10% (by weight of the formulation), more preferably about 0.1% (by weight). about 8% (total formulation weight), more preferably about 0.5% (total formulation weight) to about 5% (total formulation weight), and more preferably in an amount of about 1% (by total formulation weight). In one aspect, the elasticity modulator is Vitamin E acetate and is present in the formulation in an amount from about 0.5% (total formulation weight) to about 5% (total formulation weight), and more preferably in an amount of about 1% (by total formulation weight). The formulation may further comprise a skin texture modulator. As used herein, "skin texture modulator" is intended to refer to components of the formulation that impact on the degree of skin softness. For example, the skin texture modulator will advantageously decrease the roughness of the treated skin with a formulation comprising the skin texture modulator as compared to untreated skin, resulting in a softer skin feel. Preferably, the skin texture modulator will not cause a significant change in the roughness of the skin surface compared to normal and healthy skin.

Skin texture modulators affect the softness of the skin by changing the topography of the skin. Specifically, texture modulators adhere to the skin surface and will deposit within cracks in the skin, leaving a softer skin texture. Skin texture measurements (ie, skin roughness or roughness) can be determined by using a profilometer as described in the examples. Preferably, the measure of skin surface roughness for skin treated with a formulation of the present invention will be lower than for untreated "normal" skin (reference), indicating a decrease in skin surface roughness. .

Examples of suitable skin texture modulators include, for example, acrylics, multipolymer acrylics, cellulose nitrate, polypropylene (unmodified), polybutylene, ionomers, polyethylene (low density), polyethylene (medium density), Nylon-6, Nylon -12, thermoplastic styrene butadiene copolymer, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) (rigid), polymethyl methacrylate, aluminum octenyl succinate gum, lauroyl lysine, calcium octenyl succinate starch, polymethacrylate, nanoparticles, carboxymethyl cellulose (silicon polymers) available from Dow), graphite, crosslinked vinylpyrrolidone homopolymers, silica, ethylcellulose resins (available from Dow), micronized chitin, micronized polypropylene, pectin, hydroxy ethyl cellulose, talc, cationic polymers, silsesquioxanes, starch, polymethacrylate, cationics such as stearalkonium chloride (ie stearyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride), glycols, and co combinations of such.

Preferably, the skin texture modulator is selected from the group consisting of polypropylene, polyethylene, Nylon-6, Nylon-12, polymethyl methacrylate, aluminum octenyl succinate starch, lauroyl lysine, calcium octenyl succinate starch, boron nitride, polymethacrylate. , nanoparticles, carboxy methyl cellulose, micronized silicone polymers (available from Dow), graphite, silica, ethylcellulose resins (available from Dow), micronized chitin, hydroxy ethyl cellulose, talc, cationic polymers, silsesquioxanes, starch, cationic such as such as stearalconium chloride (ie stearyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride), glycols, and combinations thereof. More preferably, the skin texture modulator is Nylon 12. The elasticity modulator may be present in the compositions in amounts from about 0.01% (total formulation weight) to about 10% (total formulation weight). ), more preferably from about 0.1% (total formulation weight) to about 8% (total formulation weight), and more preferably about 1% (total formulation weight) to about 7% (by weight of the formulation), and more preferably is present in an amount of about 5% (by weight of the formulation).

In a particular embodiment, the skin texture modulator is a nylon. Nylons are a family of synthetic and thermoplastic polymer materials made of repeated units bonded by amide bonds. Preferably, the nylon used in the formulations described in the present invention is Nylon 12. Without wishing to be bound by any particular theory, it is believed that Nylon 12 acts to fill in the wrinkles and folds in the skin to generate smooth skin without change the natural texture of the skin. In one aspect, the elasticity modulator is Nylon-12 and is present in the formulation in an amount from about 1% (total formulation weight) to about 7% (total formulation weight), and more preferably. It is present in an amount of about 5% (by total formulation weight).

It should be noted that in certain instances a formulation component may have a dual function. For example, Nylon-12 may act as both a friction coefficient modulator and a skin texture modulator. In examples where the formulation comprises Nylon-12, additional friction coefficient modulators or other skin texture modulators other than Nylon-12 may be included in the formulation. However, since Nylon-12 can function as either a friction coefficient modulator or a skin texture modulator, friction coefficient modulators or skin texture modulators are not required.

The formulations may further comprise a temperature modulator. Skin temperature may vary with different body regions, but typically remains between about 32 ° C (89.6 ° F) and about 35 ° C (95 ° F). For comfort, it is preferable that the skin is at a temperature of about 33 ° C (91.4 ° F). Advantageously, the formulations of the present invention may comprise a temperature modulator to help maintain skin temperature within normal temperature ranges. More particularly, in one aspect, the formulations of the present invention will maintain the skin temperature at about 32 ° C to about 35 ° C for at least 4 hours, and preferably for at least 6 hours after application of the formulation to the skin. . Skin temperature measurements may be made using any suitable means known in the art. An example of suitable means for measuring skin temperature is given in the examples.

Examples of suitable temperature modulators include insulating agents, heating agents, cooling agents, and combinations thereof. Isolation agents include, for example, mineral oil, glycerol, dimethicone, crosslinked silicone polymers, petrolatum, water, polysaccharides, hydrogels, waxes, fatty acids, fatty alcohols, and combinations thereof. Preferably, the insulating agent is selected from the group consisting of mineral oil, water, petrolatum, dimethicone, crosslinked silicone polymers, glycerol, waxes, and combinations thereof. More preferably, the insulating agent is mineral oil.

Suitable heating agents include, for example, equal mixtures of glycerine, glycols, and polyglycols / polyglycerols, - SALHEAT (available from Salvona), -HOTACT® VBE (vanylyl ether) (available from Lipo), - capsaicin; vanillin derivatives; MgCl2; CaCl2; zeolite, magnesium sulfate, glyceryl cocoate PEG-7, and combinations thereof. Preferably, the heating agent is selected from the group consisting of MgCl2, CaCl2, zeolite, SALHEAT (available from Salvona), HOTACT® VBE (vanylyl butyl ether) (available from Lipo), capsaicin, vanillin, and combinations thereof.

Examples of suitable cooling agents include, for example, menthol, menthol derivatives, encapsulated cooling agents such as the SALCOOL ™ cooling composition (available from Salvona LLC, Dayton, NJ, USA), menthyl lactate, menthyl salicylate, menthyl acetate, menthyl PCA, menthol carbinol, methyl linalool, isoeugenol, methyl eugenol, ICE 1500 ™ cooling sensation agent (available from Qarôma, Inc., Baytown, Texas, USA), ketone glycerol mentment, menthoxypropane-1,2- diol, (-) - isopulegol, cubebol, N-substituted p-menthane carboxamides, iciline, mint, mint oils, cucumber, chamomile, aloe vera, anise, sage, carboamides, ketals, carboxamides, cyclohexanol derivatives, and / or cyclohexyl derivatives. Suitable additional neurosensor components are described in "Cool without Menthol & Cooler than Menthol and Cooling Compounds as Insect Repellents", John C. Leffingwell, Ph.D., leffingwell.com/cooler_tban_menthol.htm, April 19, 2007, which is incorporated in this report by reference to the extent that it is consistent (ie not conflicting) with it.

Additionally, cooling agents may consist of evaporative cooling agents such as water; hydrocarbons such as isododecane and isoeicosane; short chain alcohols such as ethanol and n-propanol; branched small chain alcohols such as isopropyl alcohol, fluorinated hydrocarbons such as perfluorodecaline, perfluoroheptane, perfluorohexane, and perfluoromethylcyclohexane; fluorinated alcohols such as C6 -C12 perfluoroalkylethanol and perfluorocyclohexylmethanol; fluorinated ethers such as perfluorobutyl ethyl ether, perfluoroisobutyl ether ether, perfluorobutyl methyl ether, methyl perfluoroisobutyl ether, and perfluorohexylethyl dimethylbutyl ether; low molecular weight classes of dimethicone, particularly 0.65 cst DOW CORNING® 200 dimethicone fluid, volatile cyclomethicones such as octamethyl cyclotetrasiloxane, decamethyl cyclopentasiloxane, dodecamethyl cyclohexasiloxane, and tetradecamethyl cycloheptasiloxane. Additionally, phase change compounds that cool due to a change in skin condition may be used. All of these cooling agents may be used individually or in any combination thereof.

Typically, the temperature of the temperature modulator may be present in formulations in amounts from about 0% (by weight of the formulation) to about 25% (by weight of the formulation), more typically about 0.1% (by weight). total formulation weight) to about 15% (total formulation weight), and more typically in an amount from about 1% (total formulation weight) to about 10% (total formulation weight).

The formulations of the present invention may additionally comprise an anti-sticking agent. As noted above, menstrual fluid or any other exudate that may be absorbed into and remain with the skin and hair. This can have a negative impact on the ability of absorbent products to absorb these exudates. In addition, a variety of microflora can be found adhered to the surface of the skin, including various pathogenic bacteria and yeast that may be associated with numerous diseases such as infections, diaper dermatitis, urinary and vaginal infections, and bad odors, among others. An anti-sticking agent may therefore be incorporated into the formulations of the present invention to prevent or reduce adherence of menstrual flow, fecal material, and / or other exudate to the skin. Additionally, the non-sticking agent helps to reduce problematic microflora adhesion to the skin or mucosa.

Without being limited to a particular theory, it is believed that the non-sticking agent incorporates into the skin through electrical and hydrophobic interaction with the skin and remains firmly attached to it after deposition. When menstruation and / or defecation occurs, exudates and / or bacteria and enzymes present in it, which typically attach to the skin through electrical interactions, are not capable of being attached to the skin because many of the binding sites already are busy with the nonstick agent. Because the electrical and hydrophilic interaction with bacteria and enzymes and the skin is reduced, much less menstrual fluid, fecal matter, and / or other body exudates remain incorporated into the skin after menstruation, defecation, urination, and the like. With reduced incorporation into the skin, exudates can be transported more effectively to the absorbent article.

Examples of suitable non-sticking agents include, for example, alginic acid, β-benzalbutyric acid, botanicals, barrack, dextrans (nominally from 4,000 to 10,000ODa), farnesol, flavones, fucans, galactolipids, high molecular weight kininogen, hyaluronate. , inulin, iridoid glycosides, nanoparticles, perlecane, phosphorothioate oligodeoxynucleotides, Poloxamer 407 pluronic surfactants, polymethyl methacrylate, pluronic silicone surfactants, sulfated exopolysaccharides, tetrachlorodecaoxide, dimethicone and related compounds, and combinations thereof. Preferably, the non-sticking agent is selected from the group consisting of dextrans (nominally from 4,000 to 10,000 Da), farnesol, flavones, fucans, galactolipids, high molecular weight kininogen, hyaluronate, inulin, iridoid glycosides, nanoparticles, and combinations. of such.

In a specific embodiment, the non-sticking agent is inulin. Inulins are a group of naturally occurring oligosaccharides, and belong to the class of carbohydrates known as fructans. Inulins are produced by many types of plants and are readily available from commercial suppliers. Examples of personal care articles comprising inulin are described in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2005/0244481, incorporated herein by reference.

In another aspect, the non-sticking agent is a thermoplastic polymer. Examples of thermoplastic polymers include polymethyl methacrylate, methyl methacrylate cross-linked polymer, ethylene / acrylate copolymer, polymethylsiloxoxane, silicone resins, and the like, such as those described in US Patent Application Publication No. 2005/0129741, which is incorporated herein. reference title.

Thermoplastic polymers may suitably be in the form of a spherical powder or spherical resin. Thermoplastic polymers suitably have an average particle diameter of about 0.1 micrometers to about 20 micrometers, and suitably from about 0.1 micrometers to about 12 micrometers, and even more suitably about 0.4 micrometers. about 7 micrometers. Without wishing to be bound by any particular theory, it is believed that polymers having a diameter within these ranges act to scatter light and fill wrinkles on the skin rather than larger particles that can accommodate on the skin. The non-sticking agent may be present in the formulations in amounts from about 0.01% (by weight of the formulation) to about 5% (by weight of the formulation), more preferably about 0.1% (by weight). about 1% (by total formulation weight). In a particular embodiment, the non-stick agent is inulin and is present in the formulation in an amount from about 0.1% (total formulation weight) to about 0.25% (total formulation weight), and with more than preferably it is present in an amount of about 0.1% (by total formulation weight). Advantageously, the non-stick agent may further assist in reducing the viscoelastic properties of menstrual fluid and other body exudates.

In one embodiment, the formulations of the present invention may further comprise a treatment agent capable of altering viscosity, elasticity, and / or fluid-scaling effects that have viscoelastic properties, such as menstrual flow, mucus, blood products, feces, among others. others. Altering the viscoelastic and / or fouling properties of these exudates may help improve the inflow, distribution and absorption properties of fluids and decrease the leakage of absorbent articles.

In particular, the relatively high viscosity and elasticity of viscoelastic fluids tend to interfere with the absorption and distribution of viscoelastic fluids within absorbent articles, often resulting in leakage of the absorbent article. Additionally, viscoelastic fluids may result in the scaling of absorbent articles. As used in this report, "scale" means the change in permeability of a fluid as it passes through a porous medium. More particularly, fouling is the reduction in permeability that occurs when components of a fluid pass through a porous medium and interact with the material structure, decreasing the inherent permeability of the porous material. Without wishing to be bound by any particular theory, it is believed that fouling by viscoelastic fluids such as menstrual flows is probably due to mucin globules present in the fluid. Mucin is a large glycoprotein present in mucosal-type fluids that gives fluids most of its mucosity properties. Mucin may exist in fluid-soluble form and as mucin globules. Mucin globules are typically in the range of about 50 to about 200 microns in size, and comprise gelled or aggregated mucin molecules. Viscoelastic agents can act in many ways to reduce scale. For example, some viscoelastic agents are believed to dissolve mucin aggregates and significantly reduce the number of these globules, resulting in a reduction in scale. Other viscoelastic agents may act to reduce the effects of soluble mucin molecules, which produce the elastic or "fibrous" quality of menstrual flow, but have little or no effect on mucin globules. Other viscoelastic agents have both effects.

Therefore, in certain embodiments, the formulations of the present invention may optionally further comprise a viscoelastic agent that is effective in reducing the viscosity, elasticity, and / or fouling effect of viscoelastic fluids such as menstrual flow. Preferably, the viscoelastic agent will reduce the viscosity and elasticity of viscoelastic fluids that contact the viscoelastic agent by at least about 10%, more preferably at least about 30%, more preferably at least about 40%. %, more preferably at least about 50%, more preferably at least about 60%, and even more preferably at least about 70% as compared to untreated viscoelastic fluids when measured in temperature of 22 ° C, shear rate of 1.0 second'1 and a frequency of 0.1 Hertz. Additionally, the viscoelastic agent will also preferably reduce the fouling properties of viscoelastic fluids that contact the viscoelastic agent by at least about 20%, more preferably at least about 40%, and more preferably. by at least about 50% compared to untreated viscoelastic fluids.

It should be recognized that the viscoelastic agents described in the present invention may exert various combinations of effects on viscosity, elasticity, and scale depending on the concentration at which they are applied to the substrate.

In one embodiment, the viscoelastic agent is selected from a group consisting of polyethylene glycol laurates, polyethylene glycol laurates, and combinations thereof. Advantageously, polyethylene glycol laurates and polyethylene glycol laurates are capable of reducing the viscosity and elasticity of the viscoelastic fluid. Suitable examples of polyethylene glycol laurates include polyethylene glycol monolaurate 400, polyethylene glycol monolaurate 600, polyethylene glycol monolaurate 1000, polyethylene glycol monolaurate 4000, polyethylene glycol dilaurate 600, and combinations thereof. Examples of suitable polyethylene glycol lauryl ether include polyethylene glycol lauryl ether 600. Preferably, the polyethylene glycol lauryl ether and / or polyethylene glycol laurate treating agent is additionally capable of reducing the fouling properties of the viscoelastic fluid. Particularly preferred examples of treatment agents include polyethylene glycol (PEG) 600 lauryl ether and related compounds, polyethylene glycol (PEG) 600 monolaurate and related compounds, and combinations thereof.

In addition to PEG laurates and PEG lauryl ethers, other polyethylene glycol derivatives may be viscoelastic agents (i.e. capable of reducing the viscosity and elasticity of viscoelastic fluids) and may be used in the formulations described in the present invention. As used herein, the term "polyethylene glycol derivative" includes any compound comprising a polyethylene glycol molecular group. Examples of other suitable PEG derivatives include PEG monostearates such as PEG 200 monostearates and PEG 4000 monostearates; PEG dioleates such as PEG 600 dioleates and PEG 1540 dioleates; PEG monooleages such as PEG 600 monooleages and PEG 1540 monooleages; PEG monoisostearates such as PEG 200 monoisostearates; and PEG 16 octyl phenyl. Polyethylene glycol derivatives, particularly preferred for use as viscoelastic agents are those that improve the inflow time of viscoelastic fluids as well as reduce viscosity and elasticity. Examples of preferred PEG derivatives include PEG 1540 dioleate, PEG 600 monooleate, PEG 1540 monooleate, and PEG 16 octyl phenol. These PEG derivatives may be used alone or in combination with PEG 600 monolaurate, PEG lauryl ether. 600, and / or other viscoelastic agents.

Other suitable examples of viscoelastic agents include sodium citrate, dextran, cistern, Glucopon 220UP (available as a 60% by weight solution of alkyl polyglycoside in water from Henkel Corporation), Glucopon 425, Glucopon 600, Glucopon 625. Other Suitable viscoelastic agents are described in US Patent No. 6,060,636, incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Surprisingly, it has been found that certain viscoelastic agents that actually enhance the fouling effect of viscoelastic fluids when used alone will in fact improve the fouling effects when used in combination with PEG 600 lauryl ether and / or PEG 600 monolaurate. For example In one embodiment, sodium citrate may be used in combination with PEG 600 monolaurate as a viscoelastic agent. When two or more viscoelastic agents are used in combination, the ratio of each viscoelastic agent present in the formulation is preferably in a ratio of about 1: 2 to about 2: 1, and more preferably about 1: 1. The viscoelastic agent may be used in varying amounts depending upon the desired results and application. Typically, the viscoelastic agent may be present in the formulation in amounts from about 0.05% (by weight of the formulation) to about 25% (by weight of the formulation), more preferably about 0.1% (by weight). total weight of the formulation) to about 20% (total weight of the formulation), and most preferably from about 0.5% (total weight of the formulation) to about 15% (total weight of the formulation).

The formulations of the present invention may additionally comprise one or more conventional pharmaceutically acceptable and compatible carrier materials. As noted above, the formulation may take a variety of forms including, without limitation, aqueous solutions, gels, balms, lotions, suspensions, creams, milks, ointments, liniments, sprays, emulsions, oils, resins, foams, solid sticks, aerosols , and the like. Suitable carrier materials for use in the present invention include those well known for use in cosmetic and medical techniques as a base for liniments, lotions, creams, ointments, aerosols, gels, suspensions, sprays, foams, and the like, and may be used at set levels. by technique.

Non-limiting examples of suitable carrier materials include water, emollients, sterols and sterol derivatives, natural and synthetic fats or oils, viscosity enhancers, rheology enhancers, polyols, surfactants, alcohols, esters, silicones, clays, starch, cellulose, and other pharmaceutically acceptable carrier materials. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the relative amounts of such components in the formulations of the invention will be dictated by the nature of the formulation. Levels may be determined by routine experimentation in view of the invention provided herein, and may be present in the formulation in amounts from about 1% (total formulation weight) to about 99% (total formulation weight).

Therefore, in one embodiment, the formulation of the invention may optionally include one or more emollients, which typically act to soften, soften, and otherwise lubricate and / or moisturize the skin. Suitable emollients which may be incorporated into the formulations include oils such as petrolatum, petrolatum, vegetable-based oils, mineral oils, natural or synthetic oils, alkyl dimethicones, alkyl methicones, alkyl dimethicone, copolyols, phenyl silicones, alkyl trimethylsilanes , dimethicone, dimethicone crosslinked polymers, cyclomethicone, lanolin derivatives thereof, fatty esters, glycerol esters and derivatives, propylene glycol esters and derivatives, alkoxylated carboxylic acids, alkoxylated alcohols, fatty alcohols, and combinations thereof.

Esters may include, but are not limited to, octyldodecyl neopentanoate, myristyl myristate, cetyl palmitate, stearyl palmitate, cetyl stearate, isopropyl laurate, isopropyl myristate, isopropyl palmitate, and combinations thereof. Fatty alcohols may include, but are not limited to octyldodecanol, lauryl, myristyl, cetyl, stearyl, behenyl alcohol, and combinations thereof. Ethers such as eucalyptol, ceteraryl glycoside, polyglyceryl-3 isosorbic cetyl dimethyl ether, polyglyceryl-3-deciltetradecanol, propylene glycol myristyl ether, and combinations thereof may be suitably used as emollients. The formulation may desirably include one or more emollients in an amount from about 0.01% (by weight of the formulation) to about 30% (by weight of the formulation), more desirably about 0.05% (by weight). total formulation weight) to about 25% (total formulation weight), and even more desirably from about 0.10% (total formulation weight) to about 20% (total formulation weight).

Sterol and sterol derivatives which are suitable for use in the formulations of the present invention include, but are not limited to cholestol, sitosterol, stigmasterol, ergosterol, C10-C30 cholesterol / lanosterol esters, cholecalciferol, cholesteryl hydroxy stearate, cholesterol isostearate, cholesteryl stearate , 7-dehydrocholesterol, dihydrocholesterol, dihydrocholesteryl octyldecanoate, dihydrolanosterol, dihydrolanosteryl octiidecanoate, ergocalciferol, pine oil sterol, soy sterol acetate, lanasterol, soy sterol, avocado sterols, fatty alcohols, and combinations thereof. The formulation of the invention may desirably include sterols, sterol derivatives or mixtures of sterols and sterol derivatives in an amount from about 0.01% (total formulation weight) to about 10% (total formulation weight), more desirably from about 0.05% (by weight of the formulation) to about 5% (by weight of the formulation), and even more desirably from about 0.1% (by weight of the formulation) to about 1% (by total formulation weight).

The formulations of the invention may also include natural oils and fats. As used herein, the term "natural fat or oil" is intended to include fats, oils, essential oils, essential fatty acids, non-essential fatty acids, phospholipids, and combinations thereof. These natural oils and fats can provide a source of essential and non-essential fatty acids for those found in the skin's natural barrier. Suitable natural oils and fats may include citrus oil, olive oil, avocado oil, apricot oil, babassu oil, borage oil, camellia oil, canola oil, castor oil, coconut oil, corn oil , cottonseed oil, emu oil, evening primrose oil, hydrogenated cottonseed oil, hydrogenated palm oil, maleated soybean, meadows plant seed oil, palm almond oil, peanut, rapeseed oil, grape seed oil, safflower oil, sphingolipids, almond seed oil, pine oil, lauric acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, linoleic acid, stearyl alcohol, lauryl alcohol, myristyl alcohol , behenil alcohol, rosehip oil, marigold oil, chamomile oil, eucalyptus oil, juniper oil, sandalwood oil, tea tree oil, sunflower oil, soybean oil, and such combinations. The formulation of the invention may desirably include oils and fats in an amount from about 0.01% (by weight of the formulation) to about 30% (by weight of the formulation), more preferably about 0.05%. (by weight of the formulation) to about 25% (by weight of the formulation), and even more desirably from about 0.1% (by weight of the formulation) to about 20% (by weight of the formulation). formulation).

Optionally, one or more viscosity enhancers may be added to the formulation to increase viscosity, help stabilize the formulation, such as when the formulation is incorporated into a personal care product, thereby reducing formulation migration and improving transfer to the skin. Suitable viscosity enhancers include polyolefin resins, oil / lipophilic thickeners, ethylene / vinyl copolymers, polyethylene, silica, silica silylate, methyl silica silylate, colloidal silicon dioxide, cetyl hydroxy ethyl cellulose, other organically modified celluloses, PVP / decane, PVM / MA crosslinked polymer decadiene, PVP / eicosene copolymer, PVP / hexadecane copolymer, clays, carbomers, acrylic based thickeners, polyethylene glycol 600, polyethylene glycols, myristyl alcohol, cetyl alcohol, stearyl alcohol, behenyl alcohol, polymers silicone crosslinks, polyamide blend, and combinations thereof. The formulation may desirably include one or more viscosity enhancers in an amount from about 0.01% (by weight of the formulation) to about 25% (by weight of the formulation), most desirably about 0.05%. % (by weight of the formulation) to about 20% (by weight of the formulation), and even more desirably from about 0.1% (by weight of the formulation) to about 15% (by weight) formulation).

The formulations of the present invention may further comprise rheology enhancers. Rheology enhancers can help increase the melting point of the formulation viscosity so that it readily remains on the surface of a personal care product and does not substantially migrate within the product, although it does not substantially affect the transfer of the formulation. to the skin. Additionally, rheology enhancers help the formulation maintain a high viscosity at elevated temperatures, such as those encountered during storage and transport.

Suitable rheology enhancers include combinations of alpha olefins and styrene alone or in combination with mineral oil or petrolatum, combinations of difunctional alpha olefins and styrene alone or in combination with mineral oil or petrolatum, combinations of alpha olefins and isobutene alone or in combination. combination with mineral oil or petrolatum, ethylene / propylene / styrene copolymers alone or in combination with mineral oil or petrolatum, butylene / ethylene / styrene copolymers alone or in combination with mineral oil or petrolatum, ethylene / vinyl acetate copolymers, polyethylene polyisobutylenes , polyisobutenes, polyisobutylene, dextrin palmitate, dextrin palmitate ethylhexanoate, stearoyl inulin, stearalconium bentonite, distaladmonium hectorite, and stearalconium hectorite, styrene / butadiene / styrene / styrene copolymer copolymers / styrene / isoprene , styrene-et copolymers ilene / propylene styrene, n (styrene-butadiene) polymers, n (styrene-isoprene) polymers, styrene-butadiene copolymers, and styrene-ethylene / propylene copolymers, and combinations thereof. Specifically, rheology enhancers such as mineral oil and ethylene / propylene / styrene copolymers, and mineral oil and butylene / ethylene / styrene copolymers (Penreco Versagel blends) are particularly preferred. Additionally, Vistanex (Exxon) and Presperse (Amoco) polymers are particularly suitable as rheology enhancers. Another suitable rheology enhancer is RM2051 (INCI: sodium polyacrylate (e) dimethicone (e) cyclopentasiloxane (e) trideceth-6 (e) dimethicone PEG / PPG-18/18) available from Dow Corning. The formulation of the present invention may suitably include one or more rheology enhancers in an amount from about 0.01% (total weight of the composition) to about 20% (total weight of the composition), and more typically about from 0.1% (by weight of the composition) to about 10% (by weight of the composition).

The formulations may further comprise a builder. The structurant used in the formulations described in the present invention helps to immobilize the formulation components on the surface of a personal care product to which it is applied. Structures suitable for use in the formulations presented herein include, for example, waxes including animal waxes, vegetable waxes, mineral waxes, synthetic waxes, and polymers. Exemplary structures include wax tree wax, beeswax, stearyl dimethicone, stearyl trimethicone, C20-C22 dimethicone, C20-C22 trimethicone, C24-C28 trimethicone, C20 alkyl dimethicone, candelilla wax, carnauba, ceresine, cetyl esters, stearyl benzoate, behenyl benzoate, esparto, hydrogenated cottonseed oil, hydrogenated jojoba oil, hydrogenated jojoba wax, hydrogenated microcrystalline wax, hydrogenated rice bran wax, japanese wax, jojoba butter, butter shea, cocoa butter, jojoba esters, jojoba wax, lanolin wax, microcrystalline wax, mink wax, motana acid wax, montana wax, ouricuri wax, cesine wax, ozokerite paraffin, PEG-6 beeswax, PEG-8 beeswax, rezowax, rice bran wax, shellac wax, malt pomace wax, spermacet wax, synthetic spermac wax, synthetic beeswax, synthetic candelilla wax, d and synthetic carnauba, synthetic Japanese wax, synthetic jojoba wax, C14-C28 fatty acid ethoxylates and C4-C28 fatty ethers, C14-C28 fatty alcohols, polyethylene, oxidized polyethylene, alpha ethylene olefin copolymers, ethylene homopolymers such as Petrolite EP copolymers from Baker Hughes Inc., (Sugar Land, Texas, USA), C18 -C45 olefins, poly-alpha olefins such as Vybar Polymers from Baker Hughes Inc. or Okerin Polymers from Honeywell Specialty Chemicals, ( Duluth, Georgia, USA), hydrogenated vegetable oils, C24-C34 α-olefin and polyethylene, polyhydroxy fatty acid esters, polyhydroxy fatty acid amides, ethoxylated fatty alcohols and C1-2-C28 fatty acid esters, ozokerite and alkyl silicone, USP petrolatum, ethylene / vinyl acetate copolymer, stearyl behenate, stearyl alcohol, isopropyl palmitate, fumed silica, celluloses, gums, clays, carbomers, acrylate derivatives, and combi nations of such.

Typically, the structurant may be included in the formulations in amounts from about 1% (total formulation weight) to about 75% (total formulation weight), more typically from about 10% (total formulation weight) to about 10%. about 50% (total formulation weight), desirably from about 20% (total formulation weight) to about 40% (total formulation weight).

In one embodiment, the formulations may comprise water. For example, when the formulation is a wet composition or liquid formulation as described in the present invention for use with a wet wipe, the formulation will typically comprise water. The formulations may suitably comprise water in amounts from about 0.1% (total weight of the formulation) to about 99% (total weight of the formulation), more preferably about 1% (total weight of the formulation) to about 100%. about 90% (total weight of the formulation), and most preferably from about 20% (total weight of the formulation) to about 85% (total weight of the formulation). The formulation may further comprise fragrances. Any suitable fragrance can be used. Typically, the fragrance is present in the formulation in an amount from about 0.01% (total weight of the formulation) to about 5% (total weight of the formulation). In a preferred embodiment, the fragrance will have a pure, fresh and / or natural aroma to create an attractive delivery vehicle for the end consumer. The formulation may further comprise a chelating agent. Chelating agents may act to enhance preservative effectiveness, and bind metals that could discolor the formulation or retard the stability of the formulation. Suitable chelating agents include, for example, ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid disodium (EDTA), commercially available from Dow Chemical Company under the name VERSENE Na2. The chelating agent may be present in the formulation in an amount of about 0.01% (by weight). about 10% (by weight of the formulation), and more typically in an amount of about 0.2% (by weight of the formulation).

In other embodiments, the compositions may further comprise a pH adjuster such as an acid or alkaline material. Any acidic or alkaline material may be used, such as malic acid, potassium hydroxide, and the like. Preferably, the pH adjuster is included in the formulation in adequate amounts to adjust the formulation to the desired pH. Typically, the pH of the formulation will be from about 4 to about 9, more typically from about 4.5 to about 7, and more typically about 6.0.

In a particular embodiment, the formulation may comprise from about 1% (total formulation weight) to about 15% (total formulation weight) of a moisturizer, from about 0.01% (total formulation weight) ) at about 10% (total formulation weight) of a friction coefficient modulator, from about 0.01% (total formulation weight) to about 10% (total formulation weight) of a modulator of skin texture, and from about 0.01% (total formulation weight) to about 10% (total formulation weight) of an elasticity modulator. Optionally, the formulation may additionally comprise from about 0.01% (total weight of the formulation) to about 25% (total weight of the formulation) of a temperature modulator, from about 0.01% (total weight). about 5% (by weight of the formulation) of a non-sticking agent, and / or about 5% (by weight of the formulation) to about 15% (total by weight of the formulation) viscoelastic.

In other aspects, the formulation may additionally comprise from about 0.01% (total weight of the formulation) to about 25% (total weight of the formulation) of a viscosity enhancer, from about 1% (total weight of the formulation). to about 75% (by weight of the formulation) of a builder, from about 0.01% (by weight of the formulation) to about 5% (by weight of the formulation) of a fragrance, or combinations of such.

In a particular embodiment, the formulation may comprise from about 1% (total formulation weight) to about 15% (total formulation weight) of glycerine, from about 0.01% (total formulation weight) about 10% (total formulation weight) of dimethicone, about 0.01% (total formulation weight) to about 10% (total formulation weight) of Nylon-12, and about 0.01% (by weight of the formulation) to about 10% (by weight of the formulation) of Vitamin E acetate. Optionally, the formulation may additionally comprise from about 0% (by weight of the formulation) to about from 25% (by weight of the formulation) of a temperature modulator such as mineral oil, and / or from about 0.01% (by weight of the formulation) to about 5% (by weight of the formulation). a non-sticking agent such as inulin, and / or from about 5% (total formulation weight) to about 15% (total formulation weight) of a viscoelastic agent. unique such as polyethylene glycol 600 monolaurate or polyethylene glycol 600 lauryl ether.

As noted above, the formulations described in the present invention may be applied to a user's skin and / or mucosa. In certain respects, the formulations may be applied to help reduce or prevent adherence of body exudates and problematic microflora to skin and hair, and to reduce the occurrence of body exudate capillarity. Advantageously, the formulation may also serve to maximize the transport of exudates to the absorbent article.

The formulations may be applied to any suitable media including, for example, wipes, absorbent articles, sprays, lotions, shower gel, foams, films, and the like. For example, a cream, foam, film, lotion, gel, liniment, paste or the like may be spread on the desired surface and gently rubbed. In other embodiments, the formulation is incorporated into a wet wipe or dry wipe formulation and applied using a wet wipe or dry wipe. In still other embodiments, the formulation may be incorporated within the absorbent article such that the formulation contacts a user's skin and is transferred to the skin when the absorbent article is used.

Therefore, in one aspect, the formulation may be incorporated into or onto a substrate, such as a tissue substrate, an absorbent substrate, a tissue or cloth substrate, a tissue substrate, among others. For example, the formulations may be incorporated into personal care products such as handkerchiefs, absorbent articles, toilet paper, bath fabrics, clothing, gloves and the like. More particularly, the formulations may be incorporated into wipes such as wet wipes, hand wipes, facial tissues, cosmetic wipes, household wipes, dry wipes, and the like, to improve skin cleanliness and health. The formulations may also be incorporated within absorbent articles such as diapers, training pants, adult incontinence products, feminine hygiene products, and the like. In a preferred embodiment, the formulation is a liquid formulation which may be used in combination with a tissue substrate to form a wet tissue or may be a wetted composition for use in combination with a dispersible wet tissue. Dispersible wet wipes are described, for example, in U.S. Serial Patent Application Publication 2007/0141936, incorporated herein by reference.

Although discussed primarily in terms of a liquid formulation for use with a wet wipe, it should be understood that the formulations described in the present invention may also be used in combination with dispersible wet wipes, dry wipes, and other personal care products as described. above. For example, the formulations of the present invention may be applied to a tissue substrate or personal care product using a variety of techniques, such as, for example, spraying slot coating, pattern coating, inkjet printing and the like. The formulation may be applied to one side or both sides of a handkerchief in any number of patterns.

Suitable tissue substrate materials are well known to those skilled in the art, and are typically produced from a fibrous sheet material, which may be woven or nonwoven. For example, handkerchiefs incorporating the formulations described in this report to improve skin health may include nonwoven fibrous sheet materials, which include meltblown weft materials, coform, air-laden , carded-bonded, hydroentangled, spunlace materials, and combinations thereof. Such materials may be comprised of synthetic or natural fibers, or a combination thereof. Typically, the handkerchiefs define a weight of from about 25 to about 120 grams per square meter and desirably from about 40 to about 90 grams per square meter.

In a particular embodiment, wipes incorporating the formulations described in the present invention comprise a polymer microfiber coform base sheet and cellulosic fibers having a weight of about 60 to about 80 grams per square meter and desirably about 75 grams per square meter. square meter. Such coform base sheets are generally manufactured as described in U.S. Patent No. 4,100,324, which is incorporated herein by reference. Typically, such coform base sheets comprise a gas-formed matrix of thermoplastic polymer meltblown microfibers, such as, for example, polypropylene microfibers, and cellulosic fibers, such as, for example, woody pulp fibers.

The relative percentages of polymeric and cellulosic microfibers in the coform base sheet may vary over a wide range depending on the desired characteristics of wet wipes. For example, the coform base sheet may comprise from about 20 to about 100 weight percent, desirably from about 20 to about 60 weight percent, and more desirably from about 30 to about 40 weight percent. percent by weight of polymer microfibres based on the dry weight of the coform base sheet being used to provide the wipes.

Alternatively, wipes incorporating the formulations described in this report may comprise a composite comprising multiple layers of materials such as those described in U.S. Patent No. 6,028,018, which is incorporated herein by reference. For example, handkerchiefs may include a three layer composite which includes an elastomeric film or a meltblown layer between two coform layers as described above. In such a configuration, the coform layers may define a weight of from about 15 to about 30 grams per square meter and the elastomeric layer may include a film material such as metallocene polyethylene film.

As mentioned above, a tissue type suitable for use in combination with the formulations described in this report to improve skin cleanliness and health include wet wipes containing a liquid solution or formulation. The liquid may be any solution which may be absorbed by the wet wipe base sheet and may include any suitable components which provide the desired cleaning properties. For example, the components may include water, emollients, surfactants, fragrances, preservatives, organic or inorganic acids, chelating agents, pH buffers, or combinations thereof as are well known to those skilled in the art. Additionally, the liquid may also contain lotions, medications, dyes, and / or antimicrobials. The wipes may also contain components comprising skin cleansing and health formulations described in the present invention, such as friction coefficient modulators, moisturizers, elasticity modulators, skin texture modulators, temperature modulators, non-sticking agents, viscoelastics, and the like. The skin cleansing and health formulations of the present invention may be absorbed within the wipe and / or be present in the wet wipe liquid formulation. The amount of liquid contained in each wet wipe may vary depending on the type of material used to provide the wet wipe, the type of liquid used, the type of container used to store the wet wipes, and the desired end use of the wet wipe. Generally, each wet wipe may contain from about 150 to about 600 weight percent and preferably from about 250 to about 450 weight percent net based on the dry weight of the tissue to improve cleanliness. In a particular aspect, the amount of liquid contained in the wet wipe is from about 300 to about 400 weight percent and desirably about 340 weight percent based on the dry weight of the tissue. If the amount of liquid is less than the ranges identified above, the wet wipe may become too dry and not perform properly. If the amount of liquid is larger than the ranges identified above, the wet wipe may become over-saturated and soaked and the liquid may concentrate at the bottom of the container holding the wet wipes.

Each wet wipe is generally rectangular in shape and may have any suitable width and length unfolded. For example, the wet wipe may have an unfolded length of about 2.0 to about 80.0 centimeters and desirably about 10.0 to about 25.0 centimeters and an unfolded width of about 2.0 centimeters. to about 0.00 centimeters and desirably from about 10.0 to about 25.0 centimeters. Typically, each individual wet wipe is arranged in a folded configuration and stacked on top of each other to provide a stack of wet wipes. Such folded configurations are well known to those skilled in the art and include c-fold, z-fold, four-fold configurations and the like. The stack of folded wet wipes may be placed within a container, such as a plastic container, to provide a package of wet wipes for final sale to the consumer. Alternatively, the wet wipes may include a continuous strip of material that has perforations between each wipe and which may be arranged in a stack or rolled into a roll for dispensing.

As noted above, a personal care product, such as a tissue or tissue, may be used to apply the formulation to the skin. In this embodiment, the wipe containing the formulation is placed in contact with a user's skin, and the formulation is transferred to the skin. The handkerchief can be used before or during menstruation and before defecation, urination, and the like, to reduce or prevent adherence of a user's body exudates, reduce or prevent exudate capillarity to the body, and promote fluid transport. from the body to the absorbent product. Alternatively, or in addition, the handkerchief may be used during or after menstruation, defecation, urination, and the like to assist in cleansing the skin and removing body exudates therefrom.

In another embodiment, personal care products comprising the formulations described herein for improving skin health and cleanliness may include absorbent articles. As used in this report, the phrase "absorbent article" generally refers to devices that absorb or contain body fluids, and more specifically, refers to devices that are placed against or near the skin to absorb and contain the various fluids. discharged into the body. Examples of absorbent articles include, but are not limited to, diapers, training pants, adult incontinence articles, women's pads, paper towels, tampons, interlabial protectors, facial tissues, wound care products, and toilet paper. Materials and methods for making such absorbent products are well known to those skilled in the art. When used as intended, absorbent personal care products including the formulation described in this report come into contact with the skin so that the formulation is placed in contact with the skin of the article wearer. In this way, the formulation can be transferred to the skin to help improve skin health and cleanliness.

Typically, the formulation is present in the absorbent article in a complementary amount from about 0.1% (by weight of the treated substrate) to about 25% (by weight of the treated substrate), more preferably in an amount of about 0%. 0.1% (by weight of the treated substrate) to about 20% (by weight of the treated substrate), more preferably in an amount from about 3% (by weight of the treated substrate) to about 12% (by weight). treated substrate). The construction and materials used in conventional absorbent articles vary widely and are well known to those skilled in the art. The invention has particular utility for feminine care articles and, for purposes of illustration and description only, embodiments of feminine care articles according to the invention, in particular female tampons, are set forth in this report by reference. However, it should be recognized that the invention is by no means limited to feminine tampons in particular, or feminine care articles in general.

Disposable absorbent articles such as, for example, many of the feminine care absorbent products may include a liquid permeable topsheet (also referred to herein with a body contact layer or cover), a substantially liquid impermeable backsheet bonded together. to the topsheet, and an absorbent core positioned and held between the topsheet and the backsheet. The topsheet is efficiently permeable to liquids intended to be held or stored by the absorbent article, and the backsheet may be substantially impermeable or otherwise operably impermeable to the desired liquids. The absorbent article may also include other components such as liquid capillary layers, liquid inflow layers, liquid distribution layers, transfer layers, barrier layers, and the like, as well as combinations thereof. Disposable absorbent articles and components thereof may function to provide a body facing surface and a garment facing surface. As used in this report, the body-side or body-side surface means that surface of the article or component intended to be disposed towards or adjacent to the user's body during normal use, while the outer surface, facing For the outside or the clothing side is on the opposite side, it is intended to be arranged away from the wearer's body during normal use. Such an external surface may be arranged to face or placed adjacent to the wearer's underwear when the absorbent article is worn. Suitable absorbent articles are described in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2004/0186448, incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

Figures 1 to 1C illustrate an example of a suitable article, such as the representative shown feminine care article, which is configured to incorporate the present invention. The feminine care article may, for example, be a female pad or handkerchief 20, and the article may have a longitudinally lengthwise direction 22, a laterally extended transverse direction 24, a first and second longitudinally opposed end portions 72 and 72a, and an intermediate portion 76 located between the final portions. As shown representatively, the longitudinal dimension of the article is relatively larger than the lateral dimension of the article. Article 20 may include a topsheet or cover 26, a backsheet (also referred to herein as a baffle deflector) 28, and an absorbent structure 30 positioned between the cover and the deflector. In one particular aspect, the absorbent structure 30 may include at least one inflow layer 32 and a molding layer 36. In other aspects, the inflow and molding layers may have absorbent capacity configurations, density configurations, weight and / or size configurations that can be selectively constructed and arranged to provide desired combinations of liquid inflow time, absorbent saturation capacity, absorbent retention capacity, z-directional liquid distribution over the thickness dimension of the article. , format maintenance, and aesthetics. The cover 26 may include a layer constructed for any operative material, and may be a composite material. For example, the cover layer may include a fabric, a nonwoven fabric, a polymer film, a woven film laminate or the like, as well as combinations thereof. Examples of nonwoven fabric include spunbond fabric, meltblown fabric, coform fabric, a carded weft, a bonded carded weft, a bicomponent spunbond fabric or the like as well as combinations thereof. For example, the cover layer may include a fabric, a nonwoven fabric, a polymeric film configured to be efficiently liquid permeable, or the like, as well as combinations thereof. Other examples of suitable materials for the construction of the cover layer may include rayon, polyester, polypropylene, polyethylene, nylon, or other heat-bonded fiber webs, polyolefins such as polypropylene and polyethylene copolymers, low linear polyethylene density, aliphatic esters such as polylactic acid, finely perforated film webs, liquid materials, and the like, as well as combinations thereof.

A more particular example of a suitable cover material may include a bonded carded composite composed of polypropylene and polyethylene as used as a stack cover for KOTEX branded daily protectors, and have been obtainable from Vliesstoffwerk Christian Heinrich Sandler GmbH & Co. KG, a company with address at Postfach 1144, D95120 Schwarzenbach / Saale, Germany. Other examples of suitable materials are composite materials of a polymer and a nonwoven fabric material. Composite materials are typically in the form of integral sheets generally formed by extruding a polymer onto a spunbond web. In a desired arrangement, the cover layer 26 may be configured to be operably liquid permeable with respect to the liquids that the article is intended to absorb or otherwise handle. Operative liquid permeability may, for example, be provided by a plurality of pores, perforations, holes or other openings, as well as combinations thereof, which are present or formed in the cover layer. Holes or other openings may help to increase the rate at which body fluids may move through the thickness of the cover layer and penetrate into other components of the article (e.g., within the absorbent structure 30). The selected liquid permeability arrangement is desirably present in at least one operative portion of the cover layer which is marked for placing the article on the body facing side. The cover layer 26 may provide comfort and flexibility, and may function to direct body exudates away from the body and toward the absorbent structure 30. In a desired embodiment, the cover layer 26 may be configured to retain little or no liquid in the body. its structure, and can be configured to provide a relatively comfortable and non-irritating surface close to a female wearer's body tissues. The cover layer 26 may be constructed of any material that is also easily penetrated by body fluids that contact the surface of the cover layer. The cover 26 may be held securely in contact with the absorbent structure 30 by bonding all or a portion of the surfaces adjacent to each other. A variety of binding articles known to those skilled in the art may be used to achieve such secure binding. Examples of such articles include, but are not limited to, applying adhesives in a variety of patterns between two contiguous surfaces, in any case interlacing portions of the adjacent absorbent surface with portions of the adjacent surface of the cover, or in any case joining portions of the surface. adjacent surface of the cover to portions of the adjacent surface of the absorbent. The cover 26 typically extends over the upper surface, on the body side of the absorbent structure, but may alternatively extend around the article to partially or entirely surround or surround the absorbent structure. Alternatively, the shroud 26 and the deflector 28 may have peripheral margins extending outwardly beyond the peripheral end edges of the absorbent structure 30, and the extended margins may be joined to partially or entirely surround or surround the structure of the absorbent structure. Absorbent. The deflector 28 may include a layer constructed of any operative material, and may or may not have a selected level of liquid permeability or liquid impermeability as desired. In a particular embodiment, the backsheet or deflector 28 may be configured to provide an operably liquid impervious deflector structure. The deflector may, for example, include a polymeric film, a fabric, a nonwoven fabric or the like, as well as combinations or composites thereof. For example, the deflector may include a polymer film laminated to a nonwoven fabric or fabric. In a particular feature, the polymer film may be composed of polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester or the like, as well as combinations thereof. Additionally, the polymer film may be micro-printed, have a printed design, have a printed message to the consumer, and / or may be at least partially colored. Desirably, the deflector 28 may operably allow sufficient air and moisture vapor to pass out of the article, particularly outside an absorbent (e.g., reservoir or absorbent structure 30) while blocking the passage of body fluids. An example of suitable deflector material may be a microporous, breathable film such as a HANJIN Breathable Baffle available from Hanjin Printing, Hanjin P&C Company Limited, a company that has offices in Sahvon-li.Jungan-mvu.Kongiu-City, Chung cheong nam-do, Republic of South Korea. The deflector material is a breathable, ripple-printed white film containing 47.78% calcium carbonate, 2.22% Ti02, and 50% polyethylene.

As a particular feature, the polymer film may have a minimum thickness of not less than about 0.025 mm, and as another feature, the polymer film may have a maximum thickness of not more than about 0.13 mm. Two-component films or other multi-component films may also be used, as well as nonwoven fabrics and / or fabrics that have been treated to provide them operatively liquid impermeable. Another suitable deflector material may include a closed cell polyolefin foam. For example, a closed cell polyethylene foam may be employed. Still another example of baffle material would be a material that is similar to a polyethylene film that is used on commercially sold KOTEX branded daily protectors, and is obtainable from Pliant Corporation, a company that has offices located in Schaumburg, 111., USA . The absorbent body structure 30 may be operatively configured to provide a desired level of absorbency or storage capacity. More particularly, the absorbent body may be configured to hold a liquid, such as urine, menstrual flow, other complex liquid or the like, as well as combinations thereof. As shown representatively, the absorbent body may include an array of absorbent fibers and / or absorbent particulate material, and the absorbent fiber may include natural and / or synthetic fiber. The absorbent structure 30 may also include superabsorbent material. Superabsorbent materials suitable for use in the present invention are known to those skilled in the art, and may be in any operative form, such as in particulate form. As mentioned generally, the superabsorbent material can be a generally water-insoluble, water-swellable, hydrogel-forming polymeric absorbent material which is capable of absorbing at least 20, desirably about 30, and possibly about 60-fold. or more than its weight in physiological saline (eg 0.9% by weight saline). The hydrogel-forming polymeric absorbent material may be formed from organic hydrogel-forming polymeric material, which may include natural material such as agar, pectin, and guar gum; modified natural materials such as carboxy methyl cellulose, carboxy ethyl cellulose, and hydroxypropyl cellulose; and synthetic hydrogel forming polymers. Synthetic hydrogel forming polymers include, for example, alkali metal salts of polyacrylic acid, polyacrylamides, polyvinyl alcohol, ethylene maleic anhydride copolymers, polyvinyl ethers, polyvinyl morpholinone, vinyl sulfonic acid polymers and copolymers, polyacrylates, polyacrylamides, polyacrylamides, polyacrylamides similar. Other hydrogel forming polymers include acrylonitrile grafted starch, acrylic acid grafted starch, and isobutylene maleic anhydride copolymers and mixtures thereof. The hydrogel forming polymers are preferably lightly cross-linked to provide the substantially water-insoluble material. Cross-linking may, for example, occur by irradiation or covalent, ionic, van der Waals or hydrogen bonding. Suitable materials are available from various commercial suppliers such as The Dow Chemical Company and Evonik Degussa. The superabsorbent material may desirably be enclosed in a marked deposit or retention portion of the absorbent system, and may optionally be employed in other components or portions of the absorbent article.

As shown representatively, the absorbent body 30 of the selected article may comprise a composite structure having a selected plurality of strata or layers. Referring to Figures 1 to 1C, for example, the absorbent composite may include an inflow layer 32 e.g. an absorbent molding layer 36 as well as any other desired component arranged in any operative combination. As shown representatively, the absorbent body structure may include an absorbent pad, impression layer 36 which is positioned between the cover 26 and the deflector 28, and may include an inflow layer 32 which is positioned between the cover 26 and the molding layer 36.

In a particular aspect, article 20 may include an upper inflow layer facing the body 32 and arranged to operate most efficiently in a target area of the absorbent body 30 where liquids are most likely to be introduced into the article. . The inflow layer material may be configured to provide desired liquid inflow properties, substantially without regard to the provision of molding properties. For example, the inflow layer configuration need not include properties that are configured to prevent agglomeration and twisting of the article, particularly the absorbent structure, during normal use. The inflow layer may include material that is configured to rapidly absorb and move liquid away from the body. Accordingly, the inflow layer 32 may provide the liquid inflow function and may also provide the liquid distribution, spreading, temporary storage and liquid retention functions. The inflow layer may include natural fibers, synthetic fibers, superabsorbent materials, a fabric; a nonwoven fabric; a wet-laid fibrous web (formed wetly); substantially unbonded airlaid fibrous web; a stabilized airlad fibrous web operably joined; or the like, as well as combinations thereof. Additionally, the absorbent body may include one or more components that may modify menstrual flow or intermenstrual fluid.

In a particular arrangement, the inflow layer may be a thermally bonded stabilized airlaid fibrous web (e.g., Concert code 175.1020) available from Concert Fabrication, a company having offices located in Gatineaux, Quebec, Canada. The inflow layer may optionally be provided by a similar stabilized airlad fibrous web available from Buckeye Technologies, Inc., a company that has offices located in Memphis, Tennessee, USA.

In a desired feature, the inflow layer 32 may have a relatively lower weight as compared to the lower molding / retention layer (garment side) 36. Optionally, the weight of the inflow layer may be the same or similar to the weight. of the impression layer. In another feature, the inflow layer 32 may have a lower density (e.g., be higher) as compared to the molding / retaining layer 36.

In a particular aspect, the weight of the inflow layer 32 may be at least a minimum of 30 g / m2. The weight of the inflow layer may alternatively be at least about 100 g / m 2, and may optionally be at least about 120 g / m 2 to provide improved performance. In other respects, the weight of the inflow layer may be up to a maximum of about 250 g / m2 or greater. The weight of the inflow layer may alternatively be up to about 200 g / m2, and may optionally be up to about 175 g / m2 to promote improved effectiveness.

In another aspect, the density of the inflow layer 32 may be at least a minimum of about 0.01 g / cm3. The density of the inflow layer may alternatively be at least about 0.02 g / cm3, and may optionally be at least 0.04 g / cm3 to provide improved performance. In yet other aspects, the density of the inflow layer may be up to a maximum of about 0.1 g / cm3 or more. The density of the inflow layer may alternatively be up to about 0.09 g / cm3, and may optionally be up to about 0.08 g / cm3 to provide improved effectiveness. In a desired arrangement, the density of the inflow layer may be about 0.06 g / cm3.

A particular feature may include an inflow layer 32 which includes fibers which may provide an inflow layer which is relatively more "hydrophilic" than the molding layer 36. Yet another feature may include the inflow layer, wherein at least one The operative portion of the fibers were semi-treated by incorporating a detachment agent to improve the opening and interlacing of the fibers during the manufacturing process. Other suitable influx layer properties are described in U.S. Patent Application No. 2004/0186448. The upper influx layer 32 has any alternative shape and / or design. For example, the inflow layer may include a single piece of material or multiple pieces of material, such as multiple strips of material. In addition, the inflow layer 32 may include holes or openings 68 (e.g. Figures 5 to 5B) to better provide the desired liquid inflow properties. The apertures may extend partially or completely through the z-directional thickness of the inflow layer 32 as desired. Molding layer 36 can provide liquid storage and retention, liquid dispensing, liquid scattering and format maintenance functions. The molding layer may include natural fibers, synthetic fibers, superabsorbent materials, a fabric; a nonwoven fabric; a wet-laid fibrous web; a substantially unbonded airlad fibrous web; a stabilized airlaid fibrous web operatively joined; or the like, as well as combinations thereof. Additionally, the molding layer may include one or more components that may modify menstrual flow or intermenstrual fluid.

In one particular arrangement, the molding layer may be a thermally bonded stabilized airlaid fibrous web available from Concert Fabrication (Concert code 225.1021), a company which has offices located in Gatineaux, Quebec, Canada (eg Concert code 225.1021 ). Molding layer 36 may optionally be provided by a similar stabilized airlaid fibrous web available from Buckeye Technologies, Inc., a company that has offices located in Memphis, Tennessee, USA. The molding layer may have a higher weight as compared to the inflow layer 32, but may optionally have the same or similar weight. In another feature, the density of the retaining / molding layer 36 may be greater than that of the inflow layer 32, and may include a density gradient across the material of the inflow layer (e.g., with relatively closer positioned higher densities). the lower part of the article, facing the clothing side). Equal or greater weight and higher density of the molding layer 36 may result in a stiff material in the lower molding / retention layer 36 as compared to the upper inflow layer 32. The configuration of the molding layer 36 may promote a better transfer of fluid next to the article deflector away from the wearer's skin, and may decrease the likelihood of rehumidification or return of flow to the wearer's skin.

In a particular aspect, the weight of the molding layer 36 may be at least a minimum of about 100 g / m2. The weight of the molding layer may alternatively be at least about 130 g / cm 2, and may optionally be at least 165 g / cm 2 to provide improved performance. In other respects, the weight of the molding layer may be up to a maximum of about 400 g / m2 or more. The weight of the molding layer may alternatively be up to about 350 g / m2, and may optionally be up to about 325 g / m2 to promote improved effectiveness. In a desired configuration, the weight of the molding layer may be about 225 g / m2.

In a further aspect, the density of the molding layer 36 may be at least a minimum of about 0.06 g / cm3. The density of the molding layer may alternatively be at least about 0.07 g / cm3, and may optionally be at least 0.08 g / cm3 to provide improved performance. In other respects, the density of the molding layer may be up to a maximum of about 0.3 g / m3 or more. The density of the molding layer may alternatively be up to about 0.2 g / cm3, and may optionally be up to about 0.16 g / cm3 to provide improved effectiveness. In a desired arrangement, the density of the molding layer 36 may be about 0.12 g / cm3. Other suitable molding layer properties are described in U.S. Patent Application No. 2004/0186448.

In optional arrangements, article 20 may include additional components or component layers as desired. For example, the transfer layer may be positioned between the inflow layer 32 and the molding layer 36. As another embodiment, the article may include any desired embossing pattern 56 (e.g., Figures 4 to 4B) formed within the hair. least one article surface facing the body side. The embossing may deform the body side cover and may deform selected portions of the absorbent body 30 to provide operative channel regions that may assist in blocking, directing or otherwise controlling a desired movement of liquids along the body facing surface. Embossing can also provide an aesthetic benefit to the consumer, and a visual clue to the leakage protection setting. In particular arrangements, the embossings may generally be positioned adjacent the perimeter edges of the absorbent body 30. In other respects, the embossings may be configured to provide a regular or irregular pattern having one or more channels that are distributed in a symmetrical arrangement. or asymmetric as desired. The article 20 may include a side panel system or flap portions 42 which may be integrally connected to the marked sections of the side regions along the intermediate portion of the article. For example, the side panels or tabs may be separately provided members which are subsequently attached or otherwise operably joined to the intermediate portion of article 20 (e.g. Figures 1 to 1C).

In other embodiments, the flaps or side panels 42 may be formed unitarily with one or more components of the article. As shown representatively in Figures 2 to 3C, for example, each or the flap portions may be formed from a corresponding operative extension of material employed to form the cover 26. Alternatively, each or both of the flange portions may be formed. flap portions may be formed from a corresponding operative extent of material employed to form the deflector 28, or formed from a corresponding operative combination of cover and deflector materials.

The side panels may have a marked stowage position (e.g. Figures 1A through 1C) in which the side panels 42 are generally internally directed towards the longitudinally extended centerline 52. As shown, the side panel which is attached to a side margin may have sufficient transverse directional length to extend and continue beyond the center line 52 to join the opposite lateral margin laterally to the article. The deposit position of the side panels may normally represent an arrangement observed when the article is first removed from its wrapper or other packaging. Prior to placing the article beside the body of an intimate garment prior to use, the side panels 42 may be selectively arranged to extend laterally from the side regions of the intermediate portion of the article (e.g., Figures 2 and 2A). After placing the article on the underwear, the side panels 42 can efficiently cover and lock onto the side edges of the underwear to help keep the article in place.

Additionally, a selected configuration of the garment sticker 38, as illustrated in the strip regions, may be distributed over the garment side of the article to help secure the article to the underwear. Typically, the garment adhesive may be distributed over the deflector side facing the garment, and one or more layers or sheets of release material 40 may be removably placed over the garment adhesive during deposit prior to use.

The side panel portions 42 may be any operative construction, and may include a layer of any operative material. Additionally, each side panel comprises a composite material. For example, the side panels may include a spunbond fabric material, a bicomponent spunbond material, a narrow spunbond material, a neck-stretched-bonded-laminated or NBL, a meltblown fabric material, a weft carded bond, a thermal bonded carded plot, an air-bonded carded plot or the like, as well as combinations thereof.

Each side panel 42 may be joined to its corresponding side region of the article in any operative manner. For example, the side panel may be attached to the cover 26, deflector 28 or other article component as well as any combination thereof. In an illustrated example, each side panel 42 is joined to the outer, clothing-facing surface of the deflector 28, but may optionally be attached to the clothing-facing deflector surface. The side panel may be fastened with hot-melt adhesive, but any other operative adhesive or clamping mechanism may alternatively be employed.

As a further feature, each side panel portion 42, or any desired combination of the side panel portions employed, may include a panel fastener component 44 that is operatively joined to a coupling surface of its associated side panel. The panel clip may be configured to operably attach to the user's underwear and / or any marked landing area portion of article 20. For example, the panel clip may include an interengineered mechanical clip system, a adhesive fasteners, a cohesive fastener system and the like, as well as combinations thereof.

Referring to Figures 1A through 2C, for example, each or both side panels 42 may include a hook or other "male" component 46 of a mechanical interengage fastener system. Any operative hook component can be employed. For example, suitable hook component materials may include J-gain, mushroom-head hook, flat-top toenail hook, palm-hook, J-hook or the like, as well as combinations thereof.

Referring to Figures 3 to 3C, for example, each or both side panels 42 may include a panel fastener system 44 that alternatively incorporates an operating adhesive 50. The adhesive may be a solvent-based adhesive, adhesive. hot-melt, pressure-sensitive adhesive, or the like, as well as combinations thereof. Each section of the adhesive 50 may be covered with a removable release sheet 51.

A first operative section of the selected hook member 46 may be attached to a main covering surface of at least a first portion of the side panel 42, and may be configured to contact or otherwise engage an auxiliary ring material 48. provided over a second side panel portion 42a during common use, as shown representatively in Figures 1A and 1B. Additionally, a second operative section of a hook member 46a, composed of the same type of hook material or not, may be joined to a main covering surface of the second side panel portion 42a, and may be configured to contact, or otherwise engage an external surface of the wearer's underwear during ordinary use. For example, the gain member may be arranged to operably engage and releasably attach to the outer surface of an underwear bifurcation region.

Each side panel portion 42, or any desired combination of the side panel portions employed, may include a ring or other "female" component 48 of a mechanical interengage fastener system. Any ring component can be employed. For example, a suitable ring component material may include a fabric, a weft fabric, a nonwoven fabric, a substrate fabric laminate or the like, as well as combinations thereof. The ring material may be integrally formed with or otherwise provided by the material of its corresponding side panel portion. Optionally, the ring material may be a separately supplied component from what is subsequently mounted to the corresponding side panel portion.

A first operative section of the ring member 48 may be attached to a main liner surface of at least the second side panel portion 42a, and may be configured to contact, or otherwise engage a hook member 46 provided on it. first side panel portion 42 during common use, as shown representatively in Figures 1A and 1B. Additionally, a second operative section of a ring member 48a, composed of the same type of ring material or not, may be attached to a main covering surface of the first side panel portion 42. As a result, the user may have the option alternatively securing the second hook member 46a of the second side panel over the second ring member 48a of the first side panel. Accordingly, the first hook member 46 may be alternatively engaged with the outer surface of the wearer's underwear.

Each or any desired combination of the provided ring members (48 and 48a) may be a separately provided member which is subsequently joined and mounted to its corresponding side panel portion (42a and 42). As a desired feature, each or any combination of the ring components may be provided by the material employed to construct its corresponding side panel portion. In various embodiments of the present invention, the hook member 46 may be configured to have a particularly selected hook concentration or density (hooks per unit area). In a particular aspect, the hook density may be at least a minimum of about 1500 hooks / inch2 (about 232 hooks / cm2). The hook density may alternatively be at least about 2000 hooks / inch2 (about 310 hooks / cm2), and may optionally be at least about 3000 hooks / inch2 (about 465 hooks / cm2) to provide improved performance. In another aspect, the hook density cannot be greater than a maximum of about 7000 hooks / inch2 (about 1085 hooks / cm2). The hook density, alternatively, may not be greater than about 6000 hooks / inch2 (about 930 hooks / cm2), and optionally may not be greater than about 5000 hooks / inch2 (about 775 hooks / cm2) for provide improved performance.

Examples of suitable hook materials may include Series 85 and 61 hook materials available from Velcro, USA, a company located in Manchester, New Hampshire, USA. The hook materials can be a hook density of about 775 hooks / cm2.

In a particular aspect, the ring member material 48 may include a nonwoven fabric having continuous bonded areas defining a plurality of discrete unlinked areas. Fibers or filaments within the discrete unlinked areas of the fabric are dimensionally stabilized by the continuous bonded areas surrounding or surrounding each unbound area, so that no film or adhesive backing or backing layer is required. Unbound areas are specifically designed to provide spaces between the fibers or filaments within the unbound area that remain sufficiently open or wide to receive and engage hook elements of the complementary hook material. In particular, an unbound pattern nonwoven fabric or weft may include a spunbond nonwoven single or multiple component melt-spun filament weft. At least one nonwoven fabric surface may include a plurality of discrete unlinked areas surrounded or surrounded by continuous bonded areas. The continuous bonded areas directionally stabilize the fibers or filaments by forming the nonwoven web by bonding or fusing portions of the fibers or filaments extending out of the unbound areas within the bonded areas while leaving the fibers and filaments within unbound areas substantially free of binding or fusion. The degree of binding or fusion within the binding areas is desirably sufficient to provide the non-woven and non-fibrous web within the bonded areas, leaving the fibers or filaments within unbound areas to act as "rings" for receiving and engage hook elements. Examples of suitable unbound stitch fabrics are described in U.S. Patent No. 5,858,515, the full disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference, in a manner that is consistent with the same.

The formulations of the present invention may be applied to the absorbent article at any suitable location including, for example, over the cover, flaps, inflow layer, absorbent molding layer, combinations of such locations, and the like. In a particular embodiment, the formulation may be applied to the absorbent article along the perimeter of the article. In this embodiment, the formulation will preferably comprise an anti-sticking agent. By applying the formulation along the perimeter of the absorbent article, the formulation (and in particular the non-sticking agent present in the formulation) acts as a barrier, preventing exudates from passing outside the article, thereby reducing lateral leakage.

In another embodiment, the formulation is coated on a surface of the absorbent article that contacts the skin, such as the body-facing side of the cover and / or tabs of the absorbent article. This way, the formulation can be transferred to the skin of the article user to help improve skin health and cleanliness. In a particular embodiment, the formulation applied to the absorbent article may comprise a non-sticking agent and / or viscoelastic agent. Once the formulation is transferred to the wearer's body, the presence of the non-sticking agent on the wearer's body may prevent exudates from adhering to the body, while the viscoelastic agent may help promote the transport of exudate out of the body and into the body. of the absorbent article. Additionally, the presence of the viscoelastic agent on the absorbent article may further reduce the viscoelastic properties of the exudate, thereby promoting more complete absorption within the absorbent article.

In another embodiment, the formulation may be first applied to the skin using a tissue impregnated with a formulation of the present invention before or after dressing the absorbent article. In this way an additional formulation can be transferred to the skin to further improve skin health and cleanliness.

Therefore, in another aspect, the present invention is directed to a system for promoting cleanliness and health of the skin. The system may comprise a formulation of the present invention, an absorbent article comprising a formulation of the present invention, a wipe having a formulation of the present invention impregnated therein, or some combination thereof. The formulation, wipe, and / or absorbent article may be used in combination to improve skin hydration, softness, and elasticity, while simultaneously preventing exudates from adhering to the body and promoting the transport of exudates away from the body and towards the skin. absorbent article.

In a particular embodiment, the system may comprise a formulation of the present invention and / or a handkerchief having a formulation of the present invention impregnated therein. The system may further comprise an absorbent article as described herein which may be used in combination with the formulation and / or tissue. As noted above, the absorbent article may have a formulation of the present invention incorporated therein. Alternatively, instead of formulation, the absorbent article may comprise a viscoelastic agent and / or a non-sticking agent to help improve the ability of the absorbent article to absorb exudates contacting the article.

Having described the present invention in detail, it will be apparent that modifications and variations are possible without departing from the scope of the invention defined by the appended claims.

Definitions As used herein, the term "viscoelastic" means a composition that has at least one significant component that is moderately viscous and has elastic properties. The term "moderately viscous" means that the component has a viscosity at least similar to that of normal human blood plasma. The term "elastic" means that the component has greater elasticity than that of normal human blood plasma. The term "viscoelastic" or "viscoelastic agent", used interchangeably in this report, means an organic agent that, when an effective amount comes into contact with a viscoelastic composition, materially alters the properties of that viscoelastic composition, for example by reducing its viscosity and / or elastic nature. The term "materially altering" means that the measured property as modified by at least a statistically significant amount and, advantageously, this change will be at least about 30% for many applications.

As used herein, the term "nonwoven fabric or web" means a web that has a structure of individual fibers or lines that are interspersed, but not in a regular or identifiable manner as in a web. The term also includes individual filaments and yarns, cotton or linen fiber yarns as well as foams and films that have been fibrillated, opened, or otherwise treated to give tissue-like properties. Nonwoven webs and fabrics have been formed by many processes such as meltblowing processes, spunbonding processes, and bonded carded web processes. The weight of nonwoven fabrics is generally expressed in ounces of material per square yard (oz / sq.yd) or grams per square meter (g / m2) and fiber diameters are usually expressed in microns. (Note that to convert from ozy to g / m2, multiply ozy by 33.91).

As used herein the term "microfibers" means small diameter fibers having an average diameter no larger than about 75 microns, for example, having an average diameter of about 0.5 microns to about 50 microns, or more particularly. microfibers may have an average diameter of from about 2 microns to about 40 microns. Another frequently used expression of fiber diameter is denier, which is defined as grams per 9000 meters of a fiber and can be calculated with fiber diameter in square microns multiplied by density in grams / cc multiplied by 0.00707. A low denier indicates a thinner fiber and a higher denier indicates a thicker or heavier fiber. For example, the diameter of a 15 micron polypropylene fiber can be converted to denier by squaring, multiplying the result by 0.89 g / cc and multiplying by 0.00707. Thus, a 15 micron polypropylene fiber has a denier of about 1.42 (152 x 0.89 x 0.00707 = 1.415). Outside the United States, the unit of measure is most commonly the "tex", which is defined as grams per kilometer of fiber. The tex can be calculated as denier / 9.

As used herein, the term "spunbonded fibers" refers to small diameter fibers formed by extruding filament-cast thermoplastic material from a plurality of thin, generally circular capillaries of a spinneret with a diameter of the extruded filaments which are then rapidly reduced. as, for example, described in US Patent No. 4,340,563 to Appel et al. , and U.S. Patent No. 3,692,618 to Dorschner et al. , U.S. Patent No. 3,802,817 to Matsuki et al. , U.S. Patent No. 3,338,992 and 3,341,394 to Kinney, U.S. Patent No. 3,502,763 to Hartmann, U.S. Patent No. 3,502,538 to Levy, and U.S. Patent No. 3,542,615 to Dobo et al. Spunbond fibers are hardened and generally not sticky when they are deposited on a collection surface. Spunbond fibers are generally continuous and have average diameters often greater than 7 microns, more particularly between about 10 and 20 microns.

As used herein, the term "meltblown fibers" means fibers formed by extruding a thermoplastic material fused through a plurality of thin capillaries, usually circular as lines or filaments, and fused into gas streams (e.g., air ) generally heated and converging at high speed, which attenuate the filaments of molten thermoplastic material to reduce their diameter, which may be a reduction in microfiber diameter. Subsequently, meltblown fibers are transported by the high velocity gas stream and deposited on a collection surface generally while still sticky to form a randomly dispersed meltblown fiber web. Such a process is disclosed, for example, in U.S. Patent No. 3,849,241 to Butin. Meltblown fibers are microfibre that can be continuous or discontinuous and are generally smaller than 10 microns in average diameter.

As used in this report, "bonded carded webs" or "BCW" refers to nonwoven webs formed by carding processes as are known to those skilled in the art and further described, for example, in the Patent No. 4,488,928 to Alikhan and Schmidt, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Briefly, carding processes involve starting with a blend of, for example, cotton fibers with binding fibers or other binding components in a bulky fibrous block that is combed or otherwise treated to provide an overall uniform weight. This web is heated or otherwise treated to activate the adhesive component resulting in an integrated, usually raised, nonwoven material.

As used in this report "airlaid" refers to non-woven fibers formed by airlaying processes. Airlaying is a well known process by which a fibrous nonwoven layer can be formed. In the airlaying process, small fiber bundles having typical lengths ranging from about 3 to about 9 millimeters (mm) are separated and loaded into an air supply and then deposited on a forming screen, usually with the aid of from a vacuum supply. The randomly deposited fibers are then bonded together using, for example, hot air or a spray adhesive. Airlying is described, for example, in U.S. Patent No. 4,640,810 to Laursen et al.

As used herein, "coform" is intended to describe a mixture of meltblown fibers and cellulose fibers that is formed by air-molding a meltblown polymer material while airborne cellulose fibers are blown into the meltblown fiber stream. Meltblown fibers containing woody fibers are collected on a molding surface, such as that provided by a porous belt. The molding surface may include a gas permeable material, such as spunbonded fabric material, which has been placed on the molding surface.

As used herein, the term "polymer" generally includes, but is not limited to, homopolymers, copolymers such as, for example, block, graft, random and alternate copolymers, etc. and mixtures and modifications thereof. In addition, unless specifically limited otherwise, the term "polymer" should include all possible geometric configuration of material. These configurations include, but are not limited to isostatic, syndiotactic, and random symmetries.

As used herein the term "blend" as applied to polymers means a mixture of two or more polymers.

As used herein, air bonding or "TAB" means a process of bonding, for example, a non-woven bicomponent fiber web in which air, which is hot enough to melt one of the other polymers of which the fibers of the plot are made, is forced through the plot. The airspeed is usually between 100 and 500 feet per minute and the contact time can be up to 6 seconds. Polymer fusion and resolidification provide the bond. Binding through air restricted variability and is generally considered a second step in the binding process. Since TAB requires the fusion of at least one component to effect bonding, it is restricted to two-component webs such as bicomponent fiber webs or webs containing an adhesive fiber, powder or the like. TAB is often used to bond BCW materials.

As used herein, "thermal stitch bonding" involves passing a fabric or fiber web to be bonded between a heated calender roll and an anvil roll. The calender roll is generally, though not always, somehow patterned so that the entire fabric is not bonded across its entire surface. As a result, various calender roll patterns have been developed for functional as well as aesthetic reasons. An example of a pattern has dots and is the Hansen Pennings or "H&P" pattern with about 30% bonding area as about 200 3gigots / square inch, as taught in U.S. Patent No. 3,855,046 to Hansen and Pennings. The H&P standard has pin or square point bonding areas where each pin has a side dimension of 0.038 inches (0.965 mm), a spacing of 0.070 inches (1,778 mm) between pins, and a bonding depth of 0.023 inches ( 0.584 mm). The resulting pattern has a bound area of about 29.5%. Another typical dot bonding pattern is the Hansen and Pennings or "EHP" bonding pattern which produces a 15% bonding area with a square pin has a 0.037 inch (0.94 mm) side dimension, and a pin spacing 0.097 inches (2.464 mm) and a depth of 0.039 inches (0.991 mm). Another typical dot bonding pattern designated "714" has square pin bonding areas where each pin has a side dimension of 0.023 inches (0.5842 mm), a spacing of 0.062 inches (1.575 mm) between the pins, and a bond depth of 0.033 inches (0.838 mm). The resulting pattern has a bound area of about 15%. Still another common standard is the C-Star standard which has a binding area of about 16.9%. The C-Star standard has a transverse directional panel or "corduroy" model interrupted by falling stars. Other common patterns include a diamond pattern with repeated and slightly displaced diamonds and a thread weave pattern looking like what the name suggests, for example, as an insect screen. Typically, the percent binding area ranges from about 10% to about 30% of the laminate web area of the fabric. As is well known in the art, dot bonding holds the laminate layers together as well as imparting integrity to each individual layer by means of filaments and / or bonding fibers within each layer.

EXAMPLES

The following non-limiting examples are provided to further illustrate the present invention.

Example 1 In this example, a lotion formulation comprising a friction coefficient modulator (COF), a moisturizer, a skin texture modulator, an elasticity modulator, an anti-sticking agent, and a temperature modulator was prepared. The following components were used to prepare the formulation.

Table 1 g.s. = quantum satis (sufficient amount) The composition was prepared using the following procedure: 1) Phase 1 materials were combined and mixing started. 2) Phase 2 materials were premixed to dispersion, and then added to Phase 1 materials as moderate to high mixing. 3) The Phase 3 materials were premixed until substantially homogeneous, and then added to the Phase 1 and 2 mixture with moderate to high mixing. 4) Phase 4 (ie Nylon-12) was added to the mixture and mixed until dispersed. 5) Phase 5 (i.e. RM2051) was added to the mixture with moderate to high mixing. 6) Phase 6 (i.e. preservatives) was added and mixed until the resulting mixture was substantially homogeneous. 7) KOH was added to Q-S. until the pH of the mixture is around 6.

Example 2 In this example, lotion formulations comprising variable amounts of a friction coefficient modulator, moisturizer, skin texture modulator, and elasticity modulator were prepared. Lotions were prepared as described in Example 1, using such components and amount with the following exceptions.

For each formulation, the moisturizer, friction coefficient modulator, skin texture modulator, and elasticity modulator were included in the formulation in a high or low amount. In particular, the moisturizer, glycerin, was included in an amount of 3 wt% (low) or 9 wt% (high); the friction coefficient modulator, dimethicone, was included in an amount of 1 wt% (low) or 5 wt% (high); the skin texture modulator, Nylon-12, was included in an amount of 1 wt% (low) or 5 wt% (high), - and the skin elasticity modulator, Vitamin acetato acetate, was included in composition in an amount of 0.5% by weight (low) or 3% by weight (high). Sixteen different formulations were created by varying the quantities of these four components. Specific amounts of these components present in each formulation are shown in Table 2 below. The total amount of water included in each formulation was adjusted proportionally to account for varying amounts of glycerine, dimethicone, Nylon-12, and Vitamin C acetate.

Table 2 Example 3 Static friction coefficient values can be used with an indication of shear forces that have occurred between the skin and materials that may come into contact with the skin. In particular, lower static friction coefficient values indicate lower shear forces between material and skin, and increased softness. In this example, the prepared lotion formulations as described in Example 2 were tested to evaluate the effect of each formulation on the skin friction coefficient as tested against different substrates.

The substrates tested were silk habutae, a non-woven material (ie 20 grams per square meter (g / m2) spunbond (BBA Fiberweb, Simpsonville, South Carolina, USA)), and hydrated Vitro Skin® N19-5X ( IMS, Milford, Connecticut, USA). Prior to testing, the Vitro-Skin® substrate was hydrated for 20 hours in a hydration chamber in a controlled environment at 23 ° C and 50% relative humidity.

Each substrate was cut into 3 x 5 cm pieces and allowed to equilibrate in a controlled environment at 23 ° C and 50% relative humidity for at least thirty minutes prior to use.

A Monitor / Slipper and Friction Instrument (TMI, Amityville, New York, USA, model 32-06) were used to conduct friction measurements. All tests were conducted in a controlled environment (232C and 50% relative humidity). A slider has been made to have a lower surface area of 5 cm x 3 cm and weight of 73 g. The Monitor / Slider and Friction Instrument have been adjusted to move the slider at a rate of 25.4 cm / min and stop after traversing 7.00 cm. A weight of 700 g was placed on the slider prior to the start of the test for extra substrate weight.

Monitor / slider and friction instrument measurements were compiled with custom software (Pau-Lin Pawar, AMT, Neenah, Wisconsin, USA). The maximum force was set at 774 g to account for the slider, 700 g weight, test samples, and cuts. The advance speed of the slider was 10 inches / minute (or 25.4 cm / minute).

All tests were conducted in an environmentally controlled room (232C and 50% relative humidity). The test substance (silk habutae, non-woven material, or Vitro Skin® N19-5X hydrate) was cut by the edge of the slider using three paper clips. The grip grips of the clips were curved upwards so as not to touch. One piece of Vitro Skin® N19-5X was laid on the shiny side of a 5 cm x 15 cm silicone skin piece (SiliClone, Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, USA). Positive displacement pipette, 200 µL of the lotion formulation being tested was applied to the center of the Vitro Skin® substrate and rubbed with a gloved finger.The skin and silicone edge of the treated Vitro Skin® substrate were attached to the instrument with Monitor / slider and friction instrument specimen retaining clamp The slider, with the test substrate attached, was placed in position on the instrument and aligned over the treated Vitro Skin® substrate. and the software start button and then the test button on the instrument. A new piece of Vitro Skin® substrate and test substrate was used for each test, and a tissue was conducted per test. A control test was also conducted five times for each substrate test without applying lotion to the Vitro Skin® substrate.

Lotion formulations were evaluated by comparing the static friction, or force required to initiate the movement of the test substrate. The static friction value was recorded as the force measure that corresponds to the highest point of the initial peak of a force curve measured in grams force (gf). Each lotion formulation was tested five times for each substrate, and the average static friction coefficient was obtained for the tests of each substrate. The differences between the static friction coefficient values were determined by the use of variance analysis between the groups.

Results Applying each lotion formulation to the Vitro Skin® substrate reduced the frictional force value between the treated Vitro Skin® substrate and the nonwoven silk and spunbond test substrates. Applying most lotion formulations to the Vitro Skin® substrate also reduced the frictional force between the treated Vitro Skin® substrate and the Vitro Skin® test substrate. Three lotion formulations, ie lotions 5, 9 and 16, showed significant differences from most others on all three test substrates. Maximum strength values for lotions 16 and 5 were consistently high while values for lotion 9 were consistently low relative to other lotions.

The average strength values (n = 5) for each lotion formulation as tested against the three test substrates are presented in Table 3 below.

Table 3 Force curves were generated by plotting the friction force (gf) in relation to time in seconds. The mean force value was calculated at each time point for each sample (n = 5). Results for lotions 5, 9 and 16 are shown in Figures 6 to 8. The formulation used to create lotion 9 reduced the frictional force between the Vitro-Skin® substrate and all three test substrates to the maximum.

Example 4 The sixteen lotions prepared in Example 2 were evaluated for their effect on skin hydration, skin temperature, skin texture, and skin elasticity.

Thirty-six female subjects between the ages of 18 and 50 were recruited for each study. Subjects with abnormal skin pigmentation at the test sites, skin disease, skin damage, skin damage from sun exposure, tattoos or purple spots on the arm test areas, or excessive dryness or erythema were excluded. Subjects were instructed not to use skin creams, oils, liniment, powders, perfumes, or arm lotions less than 24 hours before and during the test. Each subject tested two lotions on each arm and an untreated control site on one arm. The subjects had two consultations of approximately four hours separately.

On the day of the test, the subjects were acclimated at a controlled temperature and humidity (21 ° ± -16.6 ° C; 40% ± 5% relative humidity) for 15 minutes before the reference test. During equilibrium, three 3 cm x 3 cm sites were demarcated in the forearm volar aspect. After balance, reference measurements were taken for skin temperature, skin texture (roughness), skin moisture (conductance), and skin elasticity.

Skin temperature measurements were taken at each test site using a MiniTemp ™ infrared thermometer (Raytek® Corporation, Santa Cruz, California, USA). The thermometer bulb was kept about an inch below the skin surface and the measurement was taken.

After temperature measurements, reference skin texture (roughness) measurements were taken using a Surveyor 3D laser prophylometer (Laser Design Inc., Minneapolis, Minnesota). The arm was laid to rest on a support. and a laser scan of the test site was performed. The roughness calculations were performed using TalyMap Universal® v3.1.10 software. The topographic parameter Sa (mean absolute deviation) was used to calculate roughness.

Following roughness measurements, reference conductance measurements were taken for each site using a DermaLab Moisture Fiat Probe (Cortex Technology, Hadsund, Denmark). Conductance is a cosmetic industry standard for measuring skin moisture. The DermaLab Moisture Fiat Probe probe was used for all measurements. It uses electrodes arranged in concentric rings to send a series of alternating electric currents through the skin. Resistance to currents indicates the water binding capacity of the stratum corneum, or moisture level, and provides a conductance reading. A higher conductance reading indicates a higher level of moisture in the skin. The instrument probe was placed at the test site and continuous 5 second measurements were taken in triplicate.

Following conductance measurements, reference elasticity measurements were taken at each site using a DermaLab Elasticity Probe probe (Cortex Technology, Hadsund, Denmark). The probe was sealed against the skin using an adhesive disc, and a 5-cycle measurement was taken at each test site. During each cycle, a small area of the skin was sucked into two elevation detectors, one positioned 1 mm above the skin and the other 2.5 mm above the skin. The measure of elasticity was an average of the difference between the pressures required to pull the skin in these quantities. A lower difference indicates more hydrated, supple skin, and with increased elasticity and humidification.

At the conclusion of the reference measurements, 2 mg / cm2 (18uL) of the lotion formulation being tested was applied with a positive displacement pipette to the test site. Each test site received a different lotion formulation according to a randomized scheme. The lotion formulations were rubbed at the test site for approximately 10 seconds with the use of a gloved finger. One test site in each subject served as an untreated control and received no lotion, but was rubbed for approximately 10 seconds to simulate lotion application.

Subjects were allowed to leave the test site after applying the lotion formulations, and return after fifteen minutes before final measurements. Subjects were re-acclimated to controlled room temperature and humidity for at least fifteen minutes, as described above. Final measurements of skin temperature, roughness, conductance, and elasticity were made 4 hours after reference measurements were taken using the procedure described above.

Skin Temperature Measurements Skin temperature varies for different body regions, but typically remains between about 32 ° C (90s F) and about 35 ° C (95 ° F). To remain comfortable, a skin temperature of 3 3 ° C (91 ° F) should be maintained. Preferred lotion formulations will allow skin temperature to be maintained at normal temperatures after application for up to 4 hours.

All tested lotion formulations maintained skin temperature at normal temperatures after application for up to 4 hours. Skin temperature measurements ranged from 30.52C (87 ° F) to 3.52C (95 ° F). The largest difference between the reference reading and the final reading was -16.1 leC (3eF).

Moisture Measurements As noted above, conductance measurements for each formulation were taken in triplicate. Conductance measurements were averaged for each formulation, and the difference between the four-hour test measurements and the reference measurements was calculated. The mean value for untreated sites was then subtracted from these differences and the results were compared using variance analysis.

Preferably, the lotion formulations will significantly increase stratum corneum hydration more than no treatment until and including 4 hours after application. The results are shown in Figure 9, which illustrate the difference in the actual conductance measurements for skin treated with each lotion compared to untreated skin. Positive numbers indicate an increase in conductance relative to untreated skin. The lotion formulations that increased the most conductance (and thus resulted in the largest increase in hydration) were lotions 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, and 16. In all of these formulations, the moisturizer, glycerin , was present at a high level. Lotions 6, 12, 10 and 4 showed the largest and most consistent increase in conductivity when compared to untreated values, and were significantly different from lotions that showed the smallest increase in conductance.

Skin Texture Measurements The difference between the four-hour roughness value for each lotion and its reference was calculated, and the average measurements for untreated sites were subtracted from these amounts. The resulting values were compared using analysis of variance.

The results are shown in Figure 10, which illustrates the difference in the actual roughness value for skin treated with each lotion compared to untreated skin. Negative numbers indicate softer skin (ie a decrease in roughness), while positive numbers indicate rougher skin (ie an increase in roughness) compared to untreated skin. The harshness-reducing lotions were lotions 3, 8, 14, 15, and 16. Four of the five harshness-reducing lotions contained a high level of Nylon-12, a skin texture modulator. Lotion 8 reduced skin surface roughness the most, and based on statistical analysis was significantly different from the lotions that caused an increase in roughness.

Skin Elasticity Measurements The difference between the elasticity value for each lotion tested and its reference was calculated, and the average measurement for untreated sites was subtracted from these quantities. The resulting values were compared using analysis of variance. The formulations that increased elasticity were lotions 3, 9, 12, 15, and 16. Four of the five elasticity-increasing lotions contained a high level of elasticity modulator, Vitamin E acetate. Lotions 3 and 9 were the more increased skin elasticity, and based on statistical analysis, were significantly different from the lotions that caused a decrease in elasticity.

Example 5 In this example, the ability of a dimethicone-containing formulation to affect exudate adherence to the skin was evaluated.

A commercially available dimethicone-based formulation has been tested. The following components were present in the formulation.

All materials used in this example, including KOTEX® Maxi Ultrafine Absorbents (available from Kimberly-Clark Corporation), the dimethicone-based gel described above, a VITRO-SKIN® synthetic skin substrate, were acclimated for 1 hour. in a heated and humidified chamber at 30 ° C and 80% relative humidity. The VITRO-SKIN® substrate was cut into 10 cm x 10 cm squares, and the mass of the VITRO-SKIN® substrate squares and the mass of the absorbents was measured. 0.1 g of the dimethicone-based gel was spread evenly over a 5 cm x 5 cm area of the VITRO-SKIN® substrate using the index finger, and the substrate was allowed to stand for 1 minute. 0.5 g of a menstrual flow simulator was distributed over the treated VITRO-SKIN® substrate, spread over an area of 3 cm x 3 cm with the index finger, and allowed to stand for 1 minute. The pad was positioned over the VITRO-SKIN® substrate so that the absorbent medium came into contact with the menstrual flow simulator. A weight of 1.6 kg (5x8 cm) was placed on the pad. Weight was removed from the pad after 1 minute, and the mass of the VITRO-SKIN® pad and substrate was measured to determine the degree of transfer of the menstrual flow simulator from the VITRO-SKIN® substrate to the pad. The control test was also conducted three times using VITRO-SKIN® substrate treated with menstrual flow simulator but without dimethicone-based gel.

For control, the average for the three control tests showed that 18% of menstrual flow simulators remained on the untreated VITRO-SKIN® substrate after contact with the absorbent. In contrast, 0% of menstrual flow simulators remained on the VITRO-SKIN® substrate which was treated with dimethicone gel. Results indicate that dimethicone-based gel may intensify the removal of menstrual flow from the skin.

When introducing elements of the present invention or preferred embodiments thereof, the articles "one", "one", "the", "a" and "said" are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements. The terms "understand", "including" and "having" are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be other additional elements than the listed elements.

In view of the foregoing, it will be understood that the various objects of the present invention are achieved and other advantageous results are achieved.

Since various changes may be made to the above compositions and products without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all the subject matter contained in the above description should be interpreted by way of illustration and not by way of limitation.

Claims (14)

1. Formulation for promoting cleanliness and health of the skin, characterized in that it comprises from 0.01% by weight of the formulation to 10% by weight of the formulation of a friction coefficient modulator, wherein the coefficient of friction is dimethicone; 1% by weight of the formulation to 15% by weight of the formulation of a moisturizer selected from the group consisting of glycerin, lactic acid, .1 sodium actate, urea, hyaluronic acid, propylene glycol, glycol cerol, sodium PCA, betaine, sorbitol, sucrose, mannitol and combinations thereof; from 0.01% by weight of the formulation to 10% by weight of the formulation of an elasticity modulator selected from the group consisting of Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Vitamin A, and combinations thereof; from 0.01% by weight of the formulation to 10% by weight of the formulation of a skin texture modulator, wherein the skin texture modulator is Nylon-12; from 1% by weight of the formulation to 90% by weight of the formulation of a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, wherein the pharmaceutically acceptable carrier is water; at least two temperature modulators, the first temperature modulator being an insulating agent and the second temperature modulator being a heating agent, wherein the heating agent is selected from the group consisting of capsaicin, vanillin, butyl ether. vanillyl, CaCl 3, zeolite, and combinations thereof; and from 0.5% by weight of the formulation to 15% by weight of the formulation of at least one viscoelastic agent selected from the group consisting of polyethylene glycol 400 monolaurate, polyethylene glycol 600 monolaurate, monolaurate polyethylene glycol 1000, polyethylene glycol monolaurate 4000, polyethylene glycol dilaurate 600, polyethylene glycol lauryl 600, and combinations thereof. Formulation according to Claim 1, characterized in that the formulation comprises the friction coefficient modulator in an amount from 0.1% by weight of the formulation to 8% by weight of the formulation. Formulation according to Claim 1, characterized in that the formulation comprises the moisturizer in an amount from 2% by weight of the formulation to 10% by weight of the formulation. Formulation according to Claim 1, characterized in that the formulation comprises the modulus of elasticity in an amount from 0.1% by weight of the formulation to 8% by weight of the formulation. Formulation according to Claim 1, characterized in that the formulation comprises the skin texture modulator in an amount from 0.1% by weight of the formulation to 8% by weight of the formulation. Formulation according to Claim 1, characterized in that the formulation comprises a first temperature modulator in an amount from 0.1% by weight of the formulation to 15% by weight of the formulation. Formulation according to Claim 1, characterized in that the formulation further comprises an anti-sticking agent. Formulation according to Claim 7, characterized in that the formulation comprises the non-sticking agent in an amount from 0.01% by weight of the formulation to 5% by weight of the formulation. Formulation according to claim 7, characterized in that the moisturizer is glycerin, the elasticity modulator is vitamin E acetate, and the non-sticking agent is inulin. 10. Wet wipe for skin cleansing and health promotion, the wet wipe characterized by comprising: a tissue substrate; and the formulation as defined in claim 1. Wet wipe according to Claim 10, characterized in that the formulation further comprises from 0.01% by weight of the formulation to 5% by weight of the formulation of a non-sticking agent and 2 % by weight of the formulation to 15% by weight of the formulation of the first temperature modulator. Absorbent article, characterized in that it comprises: an absorbent substrate; and the formulation as defined in claim 1. Absorbent article according to Claim 12, characterized in that the formulation further comprises from 0.01% by weight of the formulation to 5% by weight of the formulation of a non-sticking agent. % by weight of the formulation to 15% by weight of the formulation of the first temperature modulator. A system for promoting cleanliness and health of the skin, the system comprising: the formulation as defined in claim i; a wet tissue comprising a tissue substrate and the formulation; or the formulation and wet wipe.